Bill Text: FL S0202 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Tax on Sales, Use, and Other Transactions
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-26 - Withdrawn from further consideration [S0202 Detail]
Download: Florida-2014-S0202-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2014 SB 202 By Senator Margolis 35-00291-14 2014202__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the tax on sales, use, and other 3 transactions; amending s. 212.0596, F.S.; revising the 4 term “mail order sale” to specifically include sales 5 of tangible personal property ordered through the 6 Internet; deleting certain provisions that specify 7 dealer activities or other circumstances that subject 8 mail order sales to this state’s power to levy and 9 collect the sales and use tax; providing that certain 10 persons who make mail order sales and who have a 11 substantial nexus with this state are subject to this 12 state’s power to levy and collect the sales and use 13 tax when they engage in certain enumerated activities; 14 specifying that dealers are not required to collect 15 and remit sales and use tax unless certain 16 circumstances exist; creating a rebuttable presumption 17 that a dealer is subject to the state’s power to levy 18 and collect the sales or use tax under specified 19 circumstances; specifying evidentiary proof that may 20 be submitted to rebut the presumption; amending s. 21 212.06, F.S.; revising the definition of the term 22 “dealer”; providing an effective date. 23 24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 25 26 Section 1. Section 212.0596, Florida Statutes, is amended 27 to read: 28 212.0596 Taxation of mail order sales.— 29 (1) For purposes of this chapter, a “mail order sale” is a 30 sale of tangible personal property, ordered by mail, the 31 Internet, or other means of communication, from a dealer who 32 receives the order in another stateof the United States, or in 33 a commonwealth, territory, or other area under the jurisdiction 34 of the United States, and transports the property or causes the 35 property to be transported, whether or not by mail, from any 36 jurisdiction of the United States, including this state, to a 37 person in this state, including the person who ordered the 38 property. 39 (2) Every dealer as defined in s. 212.06(2)(c) who makes a 40 mail order sale is subject to the power of this state to levy 41 and collect the tax imposed by this chapter ifwhen: 42 (a) The dealer isa corporationdoing business under the 43 laws of this state or isa persondomiciled in, a resident of, 44 or a citizen of, this state; 45 (b) The dealer maintains retail establishments or offices 46 in this state, whether the mail order salesthussubject to 47 taxation by this state result from or are related in any other 48 way to the activities of such establishments or offices; 49 (c) The dealer has agents or representatives in this state 50 who solicit business or transact business on behalf of the 51 dealer, whether the mail order salesthussubject to taxation by 52 this state result from or are related in any other way to such 53 solicitation or transaction of business, except that a printer 54 who mails or delivers for an out-of-state print purchaser 55 material the printer printed for it isshallnotbedeemed to be 56 the print purchaser’s agent or representative for purposes of 57 this paragraph; 58(d) The property was delivered in this state in fulfillment59of a sales contract that was entered into in this state, in60accordance with applicable conflict of laws rules, when a person61in this state accepted an offer by ordering the property;62(e) The dealer, by purposefully or systematically63exploiting the market provided by this state by any media64assisted, media-facilitated, or media-solicited means,65including, but not limited to, direct mail advertising,66unsolicited distribution of catalogs, computer-assisted67shopping, television, radio, or other electronic media, or68magazine or newspaper advertisements or other media, creates69nexus with this state;70(f) Through compact or reciprocity with another71jurisdiction of the United States, that jurisdiction uses its72taxing power and its jurisdiction over the retailer in support73of this state’s taxing power;74 (d)(g)The dealer consents, expressly or by implication, to 75 the imposition of the tax imposed by this chapter; 76(h) The dealer is subject to service of process under s.7748.181;78 (e)(i)The dealer’s mail order sales are subject to the 79 power of this state to tax sales or to require the dealer to 80 collect use taxes pursuant to federal lawunder a statute or81statutes of the United States; 82 (f)(j)The dealer owns real property or tangible personal 83 property that is physically in this state, except that a dealer 84 whose only property,(including property owned by an affiliate,)85 in this state is located at the premises of a printer with which 86 the vendor has contracted for printing, and iseithera final 87 printed product,orproperty thatwhichbecomes a part of the 88 final printed product, or property from which the printed 89 product is produced, is not deemed to own such property for 90 purposes of this paragraph; 91 (g)(k)A person, other than a person acting in the capacity 92 of a common carrier,The dealer, while not having nexus with93this state on any of the bases described in paragraphs (a)-(j)94or paragraph (l), is a corporation that is a member of an95affiliated group of corporations, as defined in s. 1504(a) of96the Internal Revenue Code, whose members are includable under s.971504(b) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose members are98eligible to file a consolidated tax return for federal corporate99income tax purposes and any parent or subsidiary corporation in100the affiliated grouphas a substantial nexus with this state 101 and: 102 1. Sells a similar line of products as the dealer and does 103 so under the same or a similar business name; 104 2. Maintains an office, distribution facility, warehouse, 105 storage place, or similar place of business in this state to 106 facilitate the delivery of property or services sold by the 107 dealer to the dealer’s customers; 108 3. Uses trademarks, service marks, or trade names in this 109 state which are the same or substantially similar to those used 110 by the dealer; 111 4. Delivers, installs, assembles, or performs maintenance 112 services for the dealer’s customers in this state; 113 5. Facilitates the dealer’s delivery of property to 114 customers in this state by allowing the dealer’s customers to 115 pick up property sold by the dealer at an office, distribution 116 facility, warehouse, storage place, or similar place of business 117 maintained by the person in this state; or 118 6. Conducts other activities in this state which are 119 significantly associated with the dealer’s ability to establish 120 and maintain a market in this state for the dealer’s saleson121one or more of the bases described in paragraphs (a)-(j) or122paragraph (l); or 123 (h)(l)The dealer or the dealer’s activities have 124 sufficient connection with or relationship to this state or its 125 residents of some type other than those described in paragraphs 126 (a)-(g)(a)-(k)to create a nexus empowering this state to tax 127 its mail order sales or to require the dealer to collect sales 128 tax or accrue use tax. 129 130 Notwithstanding other provisions of law, a dealer is not 131 required to collect and remit sales or use tax under this 132 subsection unless the dealer has a physical presence in this 133 state or the activities conducted in this state on the dealer’s 134 behalf are significantly associated with the dealer’s ability to 135 establish and maintain a market for sales in this state. 136 (3)(a) Notwithstanding other provisions of law or this 137 section, there is a rebuttable presumption that every dealer, as 138 defined in s. 212.06, who makes a mail order sale is also 139 subject to the power of this state to levy and collect the tax 140 imposed by this chapter if the dealer enters into an agreement 141 with one or more residents of this state under which the 142 resident, for a commission or other consideration, directly or 143 indirectly refers potential customers, whether by a link on an 144 Internet website, an in-person oral presentation, telemarketing, 145 or otherwise, to the dealer, if the cumulative gross receipts 146 from sales by the dealer to customers in this state who are 147 referred to the dealer by all residents having this type of an 148 agreement with the dealer are in excess of $10,000 during the 12 149 months immediately before the rebuttable presumption arose. 150 (b) The presumption in paragraph (a) may be rebutted by the 151 submission of evidence proving that the residents with whom the 152 dealer has an agreement did not engage in any activity within 153 this state which was significantly associated with the dealer’s 154 ability to establish or maintain the dealer’s market in this 155 state during the 12 months immediately before the rebuttable 156 presumption arose. The evidence may consist of sworn affidavits, 157 obtained and given in good faith, from each resident with whom 158 the dealer has an agreement attesting that he or she did not 159 engage in any solicitation in this state on the dealer’s behalf 160 during the previous year. 161 (4)(3)AEverydealer engaged in the business of making 162 mail order sales is subject to the requirements of this chapter 163 for cooperation of dealers in collection of taxes and in 164 administration of this chapter, except that anofee may not 165shallbe imposed upon such dealer for carrying out any required 166 activity. 167 (5)(4)The department shall, with the consent of another 168 jurisdiction of the United States whose cooperation is needed, 169 enforce this chapter in that jurisdiction,eitherdirectly or, 170 at the option of that jurisdiction, through its officers or 171 employees. 172 (6)(5)The tax required under this section to be collected 173 and any amount not returnedunreturnedto a purchaser whichthat174 is not tax but was collected from the purchaser under the 175 representation that it was tax constitute funds of thisthe176 stateof Floridafrom the moment of collection. 177 (7)(6)Notwithstanding other provisions of law, a dealer 178 who makes a mail order sale in this state is exempt from 179 collecting and remitting any local option surtax on the sale, 180 unless the dealer is located in a county that imposes a surtax 181 within the meaning of s. 212.054(3)(a), the order is placed 182 through the dealer’s location in such county, and the property 183 purchased is delivered into such county or into another county 184 in this state whichthatlevies the surtax, in which case the 185 provisions of s. 212.054(3)(a) applyare applicable. 186 (8)(7)The department may establish by rule procedures for 187 collecting the use tax from unregistered persons who but for 188 their mail order purchases would not be required to remit sales 189 or use tax directly to the department. The procedures may 190 provide for waiver of registration and registration fees, 191 provisions for irregular remittance of tax, elimination of the 192 collection allowance, and nonapplication of local option 193 surtaxes. 194 Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 212.06, Florida 195 Statutes, is amended to read: 196 212.06 Sales, storage, use tax; collectible from dealers; 197 “dealer” defined; dealers to collect from purchasers; 198 legislative intent as to scope of tax.— 199 (2)(a)The term “dealer,” as used in this chapter, means a 200includes everyperson who: 201 (a) Manufactures or produces tangible personal property for 202 sale at retail; for use, consumption, or distribution; or for 203 storage to be used or consumed in this state. 204 (b)The term “dealer” is further defined to mean every205person, as used in this chapter, whoImports, or causes to be 206 imported, tangible personal property from any state or foreign 207 country for sale at retail; for use, consumption, or 208 distribution; or for storage to be used or consumed in this 209 state. 210 (c)The term “dealer” is further defined to mean every211person, as used in this chapter, whoSellsat retailorwho212 offers for sale at retail, orwhohas in his or her possession 213 for sale at retail;orfor use, consumption, or distribution; or 214 for storage to be used or consumed in this state, tangible 215 personal propertyas defined herein, including a retailer who 216 transacts a mail order sale. 217 (d)The term “dealer” is further defined to mean any person218whoHas sold at retail;orused,orconsumed, or distributed; or 219 stored for use or consumption in this state,tangible personal 220 property andwhocannot prove that the tax levied by this 221 chapter has been paid on the sale at retail, the use, the 222 consumption, the distribution, or the storage of such tangible 223 personal property.However,The term“dealer”does not include 224meana person who is not a “dealer” as otherwise defined in 225under the definition of any other paragraph ofthis subsection 226 and whose only owned or leased property,(including property 227 owned or leased by an affiliate,)in this state is located at 228 the premises of a printer with which it has contracted for 229 printing,if such property consists of the final printed 230 product, property which becomes a part of the final printed 231 product, or property from which the printed product is produced. 232 (e)The term “dealer” is further defined to mean any233person, as used in this chapter, whoLeases or rents tangible 234 personal property, as defined in this chapter,fora235 consideration, permitting the use or possession of such property 236 without transferring title thereto, except as expressly provided 237 in this chapterfor tothe contrary herein. 238 (f)The term “dealer” is further defined to mean any239person, as used in this chapter, whoMaintains or useshas240 within this state, directly or by a subsidiary,an office, 241 distributing house, salesroom,orhouse, warehouse, or other 242 place of business operated by any person other than a common 243 carrier acting in the capacity of a common carrier. 244 (g)“Dealer” also means and includes every person who245 Solicits businesseitherby direct representatives, indirect 246 representatives, or manufacturers’ agents; by distribution of 247 catalogs or other advertising matter; or by any other means 248whatsoever,and by reason thereof receives orders for tangible 249 personal property from consumers for use, consumption, 250 distribution, and storage for use or consumption in the state.;251 Such dealer shall collect the tax imposed by this chapter from 252 the purchaser, and no action,eitherin law or in equity, on a 253 sale or transaction as provided bythe terms ofthis chapter may 254 be had in this state byanysuch dealer unless it is 255 affirmatively shown thatthe provisions ofthis chapter hashave256 been fully complied with. 257 (h)“Dealer” also means and includes every person who,As a 258 representative, agent, or solicitor of an out-of-state principal 259 or principals, solicits, receives, and accepts orders from 260 consumers in the state for future delivery and whose principal 261 refuses to register as a dealer. 262 (i) Constitutes“Dealer” also means and includesthe state 263 or any,county, municipality, districtany political264subdivision, agency, bureau,ordepartment, or other state or 265 local governmental instrumentality. 266 (j)The term “dealer” is further defined to mean any person267whoLeases, or grants a license to use, occupy, or enter upon, 268 living quarters, sleeping or housekeeping accommodations in 269 hotels, apartment houses, roominghouses, tourist or trailer 270 camps, real property, space or spaces in parking lots or garages 271 for motor vehicles, docking or storage space or spaces for boats 272 in boat docks or marinas, or tie-down or storage space or spaces 273 for aircraft at airports. The term includes“dealer” also means274 any person who has leased, occupied, or used or was entitled to 275 use any living quarters, sleeping or housekeeping accommodations 276 in hotels, apartment houses, roominghouses, tourist or trailer 277 camps, real property, space or spaces in parking lots or garages 278 for motor vehicles, or docking or storage space or spaces for 279 boats in boat docks or marinas, or who has purchased 280 communication services or electric power or energy, and who 281 cannot prove that the tax levied by this chapter has been paid 282 to the vendor or lessor onanysuch transactions. The term 283“dealer”does not include aanyperson who leases, lets, rents, 284 or grants a license to use, occupy, or enter upon any living 285 quarters, sleeping quarters, or housekeeping accommodations in 286 apartment houses, roominghouses, tourist camps, or trailer 287 camps, and who exclusively enters into a bona fide written 288 agreement for continuous residence for longer than 6 monthsin289durationwith aanyperson who leases, lets, rents, or is 290 granted a license to use such property. 291 (k)“Dealer” also means any person whoSells, provides, or 292 performs a service taxable under this chapter. The term includes 293 a“Dealer” also means anyperson who purchases, uses, or 294 consumes a service taxable under this chapter who cannot prove 295 that the tax levied by this chapter has been paid to the seller 296 of the taxable service. 297 (l)“Dealer” also means any person whoSolicits, offers, 298 provides, enters into, issues, or delivers any service warranty 299 taxable under this chapter, or who receives, on behalf of such a 300 person, any consideration from a service warranty holder. 301 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.