Florida Sales Tax
Florida Sales Tax At a Glance
State rate: 6%
Maximum combined rate: 8%
Sourcing: Destination
Tax Holidays: Energy Star, Weather Preparedness, Back to School, Other
Streamlined Sales Tax Member: No
Governing Body: Florida Department of Revenue
As a destination-based state with many rates and jurisdictions, Florida is one of the more complicated states when it comes to sales tax. As with many states, in Florida, one cannot determine the tax rate to use simply by city or ZIP code. More specific location details must be used.
Florida Sales Tax Rates
Florida sales tax varies by location. There is a state sales tax of 6%. There is also a discretionary sales surtax (county tax) in most counties, bringing the total sales tax as high as 8% in some areas.
Tax Sourcing
Florida is a destination state where rates are determined by where the good was ultimately delivered in the state, as well as the type of goods delivered.
You can use our free sales tax calculator to look up Florida sales tax rates by address.
Florida Nexus
Businesses that operate in the state of Florida have nexus for the purposes of their sales tax returns, and are required to collect sales tax on purchases and file and remit those to the Florida DOR.
Physical Nexus
An out-of-state business may also create a nexus if it meets any of the following criteria:
- It has one or more employees, agents, or independent contractors who conduct sales or other business activities within the state.
- It has an office or other place of business in Florida.
- It makes sales at retail locations operating in Florida.
- If repairs or alterations are made to any physical property in the state.
- It assembles, installs, or services and repairs products within the state.
- It owns or leases real property, or tangible personal property, within the state.
- It delivers goods to Florida customers via its own truck (whether owned or leased). Note that this doesn’t include freight or common carrier (FedEx/UPS/USPS) shipments.
- If goods are imported from any other state or country to be sold in Florida.
Out of state businesses who display tangible personal property (TPP) or services at a trade show will be required to register and collect sales tax if the agreement with the trade show ALLOWS the business to make retail sales of TPP or services. The only time this is exempt is if the written agreement prohibits it. If a sale is allowed, the business has these sales tax obligations even if they do not actually make a sale.
Economic Nexus
In addition to physical nexus, Florida has established criteria for economic nexus, effective as of July 1, 2021. Any retailer or vendor that collects $100,000 or more in revenue from buyers located in Florida during the previous calendar year will establish economic nexus. These sellers are then required to collect sales tax and remit to the state on their tax returns.
Marketplace Facilitators
Florida requires marketplace facilitators (like Amazon, Walmart, or Etsy) to collect and remit tax on behalf of third-party sellers. That cost may be passed along to the seller. Check with your drop-shipping companies in advance to understand how they plan to handle this situation.
- Calculation: Sales made through a marketplace do not count toward a remote seller’s $100,000 economic nexus threshold. You only count your direct sales (e.g., via your own website).
- Filing: Even if you only sell through a marketplace, if you have physical nexus (like FBA inventory), you must register and file “zero-tax” returns.
What is Taxable in Florida
Tangible Goods
Most goods and a few services are subject to sales tax in Florida. You must collect and remit sales tax if your business sells taxable tangible personal property, electric power or energy, prepaid phones, secondhand goods, or if you meet the economic nexus requirements and deliver goods into Florida from out of state.
Groceries, seeds, fertilizer, medical equipment, and prescription drugs are exempt from sales tax.
If you purchase an item from outside the state of Florida, and if you did not pay sales tax on the item, you owe it as use tax instead.
Services
Most services in Florida are not taxable, but there are a few exceptions. Florida’s taxable services include several specific examples of production of or repair of good, as well as:
- Commercial pest control services
- Non-residential building cleaning services
- Burglary/security services for residential or commercial property
- Detective services
Shipping and Handling
Shipping charges are usually taxable in Florida. The only way to avoid this is to do both of the following:
- Make it a separately stated item on the invoice (and make sure it doesn’t including handling charges), AND
- Give customers an option to avoid it (such as a pickup-in-store option).
Digital Goods and Services
Streaming music, movies, and e-books are taxable in Florida as tangible personal property. Software as a Service is generally exempt from sales tax in Florida because it is considered a service rather than the sale of a physical product.
Sales Tax Holidays
Florida is famous for having multiple, lengthy tax holidays. In 2026, the primary holidays include:
- Back-to-School: (Typically the first two weeks of August). Exempts clothing ($100 or less), school supplies ($50 or less), and personal computers ($1,500 or less).
- Disaster Preparedness: (May and August). Exempts generators, batteries, and flashlights.
- Freedom Summer: (Memorial Day through Labor Day). Exempts admissions to parks, events, and outdoor equipment.
Registration and Filing
New businesses can register online by visiting https://taxapps.floridarevenue.com/IRegistration/. Alternatively, you can complete a paper version of the Florida Business Tax Application (Form DR-1) which can be downloaded here along with a $5 fee for paper registration. The form can be mailed to the address shown on the last page of the form, or delivered to a FL Department of Revenue taxpayer service center. Click here for a list of all DOR service centers.
When you register for a sales tax permit in Florida, you will receive several documents. These include:
- Certificate of Registration (Form DR-11) – This form authorizes you to conduct business at the address shown on the form. It should be visibly and clearly displayed at your place of business.
- Florida Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax (Form DR-13) – This is the form you must provide when you make purchases of items that are normally taxable goods, but which when purchased for a business to resell. This form is reissued yearly.
- Sales Tax Rate Table (Form DR-15DSS) – shows the state tax plus local discretionary tax on a county-by-county basis
See the Florida Department of Revenue website to:
- View complete information about what is needed to register.
- Enroll to pay taxes electronically.
- Look up local tax rates by address.
Filing Frequencies
You can pay Florida sales and use tax by:
- using the Department of Revenue’s secure web application; or
- Filing by mail using Form DR-15; or
- using software from an approved vendor.
- If sales & use tax revenue totals less than $5,000 per year, you may report using paper Sales and Use Tax Return (PDF) however electronic filing is encouraged. See instructions here. (The limit was $20,000 instead of $5000 prior to January 1, 2023.)
You are required to file at the following frequency, depending on the amount of sales tax collected:
- More than $1000: Monthly
- $501 – $1000: Quarterly
- $101-500: Semiannual
- $100 or less: Annual
Businesses can deduct a collection allowance of 2.5% of the first $1,200 due (not to exceed $30) when you file and pay electronically and on time.
Deadlines
Monthly: Due on the 1st day of the month and late after the 20th day of the month following the collection period. For example, if the sale took place during January, then tax is due on the 1st of February and late after the 20th of February.
Quarterly: Due on the 1st and late after the 20th day of the month following the collection period. For example, if the sale took place during April, then tax is due on the 1st of July and late after the 20th of July.
Semiannually: Due on the 1st and late after the 20th day of the month following the collection period. For example, if the sale took place during April, then tax is due on the 1st of July and late after the 20th of July.
Annually: Due on the 1st and late after the 20th day of the month following the collection period. For example, if the sale took place during April, then tax is due on the 1st of January of the following year and late after the 20th of January.
All electronic payments must be submitted by 5:00PM on day of collection, which allows for 1-2 days processing time. Note that this is BEFORE the due date.
If the 20th falls on a weekend or federal or state holiday, then returns will be considered late as of the previous business day. For example, if the 20th is on a Sunday, then taxes are considered late after Friday the 18th, assuming the 18th is a business day.
Monthly Sales Tax Due Dates
| Period | Due Date | Late After |
|---|---|---|
| January | February 1 | February 20 |
| February | March 1 | March 20 |
| March | April 1 | April 20 |
| April | May 1 | May 20 |
| May | June 1 | June 20 |
| June | July 1 | July 20 |
| July | August 1 | August 20 |
| August | September 1 | September 20 |
| September | October 1 | October 20 |
| October | November 1 | November 20 |
| November | December 1 | December 20 |
| December | January 1 (following year) | January 20 (following year) |
Quarterly Sales Tax Due Dates
| Period | Due Date | Late After |
|---|---|---|
| January – March (Q1) | April 1 | April 20 |
| April – June (Q2) | July 1 | July 20 |
| July – September (Q3) | October 1 | October 20 |
| October – December (Q4) | January 1 (following year) | January 20 (following year) |
Semiannual Sales Tax Due Dates
| Period | Due Date | Late After |
|---|---|---|
| January – June | July 1 | July 20 |
| July – December | January 1 (following year) | January 20 (following year) |
Annual Sales Tax Due Dates
| Period | Due Date | Late After |
|---|---|---|
| January – December | January 1 (following year) | January 20 (following year) |
Penalties and Interest
Florida is serious about applying penalties and interest to those who fail to file or do not file by the given deadlines. For tax returns that are filed late or tax paid late, or if the return is incomplete, a penalty of 10% of the tax due is assessed. If that amount is less than $50, then the penalty is $50 instead. If you do not owe taxes but file late, you will be assessed a $50 penalty.
In addition to penalties, the Florida Department of Revenue also charges interest on unpaid taxes. The rate can change, so it’s posted on the DOR website at https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/taxesfees/Pages/tax_interest_rates.aspx. A floating rate is set twice a year. For early 2026, the current rate is 11% until June 30 when it jumps to 12% on July 1.
Resources
- Calendar of Due Dates for Florida e-Services Taxes (PDF)
- General Tax Portal (Includes Sales and Use Tax)
- Sales Tax Rate Tables (PDF)
Florida Sales Tax Software
Taxpayers in Florida can use our TaxTools sales tax software to accurately calculate and collect Florida sales tax on websites or other applications. TaxTools scrubs Florida addresses and determines the correct sales tax rate for all orders shipping within the state of Florida. Configuring sales tax on your e-commerce site has never been easier. Learn more or sign up for a free trial of the TaxTools software.
Last updated January 2026