HB 7099 Taxation / Passed Senate Appropriations Committee on 3/3/16. / House Tax Package. This bill was substantially amended by the Senate and bears little resemblance to the original House bill. The Senate stripped the bill and amended it so that now it:
  • Allows three northwest Florida counties to use up to 10% of their tourist development taxes for public safety and law enforcement services related to increased tourism in the area. County Commissioners must approve such use.
  • Revises definitions for "new business" and "expansion of an existing business" for purposes of Enterprise Zones. Allows additional businesses to qualify for ad valorem tax exemptions when in enterprise zones. Exempts data center equipment from ad valorem taxes when in an Enterprise Zone. Grants this ad valorem tax exemption for up to 20 years for data centers. Provisions are retroactive to December 31, 2015.
  • Allows the Department of Revenue to receive funding for the costs to collect and enforce taxes collected under Ch. 201.15 and to pay the debt service through 2017.
  • Allows for credits on aviation fuel taxes for fuel used by transcontinental jets if the company increased their workforce by more than 1,000 percent before July 1, 2016.
  • Lowers the aviation fuel tax from 6.9 cents per gallon to 4.27 cents per gallon.
  • Changes the definitions of "affiliate" and ""wholesale sales price" in Ch. 210.25, FS, as it relates to tobacco products.
  • Exempts aircraft from sales tax if the aircraft will be registered in a foreign jurisdiction within 10 days.
  • Reduces taxes on manufactured asphalt used for government public works projects by 60% in July 2016; 80% in July 2017; and 100% in July 2018 and beyond.
  • Exempts food and drink sold to veterans' organizations for resale to their veteran customers. Adds American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to eligible veteran organizations.
  • Permanently eliminates the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment; manufacturers must show an affidavit of eligibility to seller.
  • Exempts certain postharvest machinery and equipment, labor, repair and parts from sales tax.
  • Exempts metal recycling machinery and equipment from sales tax.
  • Exempts concrete mixer drums on trucks until April 30, 2017.
  • Adopts the 2016 changes to the federal tax code for corporate tax returns.
  • For corporate tax returns filed before January 1, 2026 changes the date for certain tax return filings; changing dates for estimated tax payments.
  • Redirects deposit of the taxes on alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and other tobacco products.
  • Adds pear beverages to those for which excise taxes are collected.
  • Adds cigarettes and tobacco products to those amenities given an alternate taxing mechanism when associated with cruise ship trips.
  • Provides a sales tax holiday for clothing and school supplies August 5-7, 2016.
The fiscal impact of this bill is $129 million.