CHAPTER 212

212.01 Short title. This chapter shall be known as the “Florida Revenue Act of 1949” and the taxes imposed herein shall be in addition to all other taxes imposed by law. History. — s. 1, ch. 26319, 1949. 212.02 Definitions. The following terms and phrases when used in this chapter have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (1) The term “admissions” means and includes the net sum of money after deduction of any federal taxes for admitting a person or vehicle or persons to any place of amusement, sport, or recreation or for the privilege of entering or staying in any place of amusement, sport, or recreation, including, but not limited to, theaters, outdoor theaters, shows, exhibitions, games, races, or any place where charge is made by way of sale of tickets, gate charges, seat charges, box charges, season pass charges, cover charges, greens fees, participation fees, entrance fees, or other fees or receipts of anything of value measured on an admission or entrance or length of stay or seat box accommodations in any place where there is any exhibition, amusement, sport, or recreation, and all dues and fees paid to private clubs and membership clubs providing recreational or physical fitness facilities, including, but not limited to, golf, tennis, swimming, yachting, boating, athletic, exercise, and fitness facilities, except physical fitness facilities owned or operated by any hospital licensed under chapter 395. (2) “Business” means any activity engaged in by any person, or caused to be engaged in by him or her, with the object of private or public gain, benefit, or advantage, either direct or indirect. Except for the sales of any aircraft, boat, mobile home, or motor vehicle, the term “business” shall not be construed in this chapter to include occasional or isolated sales or transactions involving tangible personal property or services by a person who does not hold himself or herself out as engaged in business or sales of unclaimed tangible personal property under s. 717.122, but includes other charges for the sale or rental of tangible personal property, sales of services taxable under this chapter, sales of or charges of admission, communication services, all rentals and leases of living quarters, other than low-rent housing operated under chapter 421, sleeping or housekeeping accommodations in hotels, apartment houses, roominghouses, tourist or trailer camps, and all leases or rentals of or licenses in parking lots or garages for motor vehicles, docking or storage spaces for boats in boat docks or marinas as defined in this chapter and made subject to a tax imposed by this chapter. The term “business” shall not be construed in this chapter to include the leasing, subleasing, or licensing of real property by one corporation to another if all of the stock of both such corporations is owned, directly or through one or more wholly owned subsidiaries, by a common parent corporation; the property was in use prior to July 1, 1989, title to the property was transferred after July 1, 1988, and before July 1, 1989, between members of an affiliated group, as defined in s. 1504(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which group included both such corporations and there is no substantial change in the use of the property following the transfer of title; the leasing, subleasing, or licensing of the property was required by an unrelated lender as a condition of providing financing to one or more members of the affiliated group; and the corporation to which the property is leased, subleased, or licensed had sales subject to the tax imposed by this chapter of not less than $667 million during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30. Any tax on such sales, charges, rentals, admissions, or other transactions made subject to the tax imposed by this chapter shall be collected by the state, county, municipality, any political subdivision, agency, bureau, or department, or other state or local governmental instrumentality in the same manner as other dealers, unless specifically exempted by this chapter. (3) The terms “cigarettes,” “tobacco,” or “tobacco products” referred to in this chapter include all such products as are defined or may be hereafter defined by the laws of the state. (4) “Cost price” means the actual cost of articles of tangible personal property without any deductions therefrom on account of the cost of materials used, labor or service costs, transportation charges, or any expenses whatsoever. (5) The term “department” means the Department of Revenue. (6) “Enterprise zone” means an area of the state designated pursuant to s. 290.0065. This subsection expires on the date specified in s. 290.016 for the expiration of the Florida Enterprise Zone Act. (7) “Factory-built building” means a structure manufactured in a manufacturing facility for installation or erection as a finished building; “factory-built building” includes, but is not limited to, residential, commercial, institutional, storage, and industrial structures. (8) “In this state” or “in the state” means within the state boundaries of Florida as defined in s. 1, Art. II of the State Constitution and includes all territory within these limits owned by or ceded to the United States. (9) The term “intoxicating beverages” or “alcoholic beverages” referred to in this chapter includes all such beverages as are so defined or may be hereafter defined by the laws of the state. (10) “Lease,” “let,” or “rental” means leasing or renting of living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations in hotels, apartment houses, roominghouses, and tourist or trailer camps, the same being defined as follows: (a) Every building or other structure kept, used, maintained, or advertised as, or held out to the public to be, a place where sleeping accommodations are supplied for pay to transient or permanent guests or tenants, in which 10 or more rooms are furnished for the accommodation of such guests, and having one or more dining rooms or cafes where meals or lunches are served to such transient or permanent guests; such sleeping accommodations and dining rooms or cafes being conducted in the same building or buildings in connection therewith, shall, for the purpose of this chapter, be deemed a hotel. (b) Any building, or part thereof, where separate accommodations for two or more families living independently of each other are supplied to transient or permanent guests or tenants shall for the purpose of this chapter be deemed an apartment house. (c) Every house, boat, vehicle, motor court, trailer court, or other structure or any place or location kept, used, maintained, or advertised as, or held out to the public to be, a place where living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations are supplied for pay to transient or permanent guests or tenants, whether in one or adjoining buildings, shall for the purpose of this chapter be deemed a roominghouse. (d) In all hotels, apartment houses, and roominghouses within the meaning of this chapter, the parlor, dining room, sleeping porches, kitchen, office, and sample rooms shall be construed to mean “rooms.” (e) A “tourist camp” is a place where two or more tents, tent houses, or camp cottages are located and offered by a person or municipality for sleeping or eating accommodations, most generally to the transient public for either a direct money consideration or an indirect benefit to the lessor or owner in connection with a related business. (f) A “trailer camp,” “mobile home park,” or “recreational vehicle park” is a place where space is offered, with or without service facilities, by any persons or municipality to the public for the parking and accommodation of two or more automobile trailers, mobile homes, or recreational vehicles which are used for lodging, for either a direct money consideration or an indirect benefit to the lessor or owner in connection with a related business, such space being hereby defined as living quarters, and the rental price thereof shall include all service charges paid to the lessor. (g) “Lease,” “let,” or “rental” also means the leasing or rental of tangible personal property and the possession or use thereof by the lessee or rentee for a consideration, without transfer of the title of such property, except as expressly provided to the contrary herein. The term “lease,” “let,” or “rental” does not mean hourly, daily, or mileage charges, to the extent that such charges are subject to the jurisdiction of the 1 United States Interstate Commerce Commission, when such charges are paid by reason of the presence of railroad cars owned by another on the tracks of the taxpayer, or charges made pursuant to car service agreements. The term “lease,” “let,” “rental,” or “license” does not include payments made to an owner of high-voltage bulk transmission facilities in connection with the possession or control of such facilities by a regional transmission organization, independent system operator, or similar entity under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. However, where two taxpayers, in connection with the interchange of facilities, rent or lease property, each to the other, for use in providing or furnishing any of the services mentioned in s. 166.231, the term “lease or rental” means only the net amount of rental involved. (h) “Real property” means the surface land, improvements thereto, and fixtures, and is synonymous with “realty” and “real estate.” (11) “Motor fuel” means and includes what is commonly known and sold as gasoline and fuels containing a mixture of gasoline and other products. (12) “Person” includes any individual, firm, copartnership, joint adventure, association, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, syndicate, or other group or combination acting as a unit and also includes any political subdivision, municipality, state agency, bureau, or department and includes the plural as well as the singular number. (13) “Retailer” means and includes every person engaged in the business of making sales at retail or for distribution, or use, or consumption, or storage to be used or consumed in this state. (14)(a) “Retail sale” or a “sale at retail” means a sale to a consumer or to any person for any purpose other than for resale in the form of tangible personal property or services taxable under this chapter, and includes all such transactions that may be made in lieu of retail sales or sales at retail. A sale for resale includes a sale of qualifying property. As used in this paragraph, the term “qualifying property” means tangible personal property, other than electricity, which is used or consumed by a government contractor in the performance of a qualifying contract as defined in s. 212.08(17)(c), to the extent that the cost of the property is allocated or charged as a direct item of cost to such contract, title to which property vests in or passes to the government under the contract. The term “government contractor” includes prime contractors and subcontractors. As used in this paragraph, a cost is a “direct item of cost” if it is a “direct cost” as defined in 48 C.F.R. s. 9904.418-30(a)(2), or similar successor provisions, including costs identified specifically with a particular contract. (b) The terms “retail sales,” “sales at retail,” “use,” “storage,” and “consumption” include the sale, use, storage, or consumption of all tangible advertising materials imported or caused to be imported into this state. Tangible advertising material includes displays, display containers, brochures, catalogs, price lists, point-of-sale advertising, and technical manuals or any tangible personal property which does not accompany the product to the ultimate consumer. (c) “Retail sales,” “sale at retail,” “use,” “storage,” and “consumption” do not include materials, containers, labels, sacks, bags, or similar items intended to accompany a product sold to a customer without which delivery of the product would be impracticable because of the character of the contents and be used one time only for packaging tangible personal property for sale or for the convenience of the customer or for packaging in the process of providing a service taxable under this chapter. When a separate charge for packaging materials is made, the charge shall be considered part of the sales price or rental charge for purposes of determining the applicability of tax. The terms do not include the sale, use, storage, or consumption of industrial materials, including chemicals and fuels except as provided herein, for future processing, manufacture, or conversion into articles of tangible personal property for resale when such industrial materials, including chemicals and fuels except as provided herein, become a component or ingredient of the finished product. However, the terms include the sale, use, storage, or consumption of tangible personal property, including machinery and equipment or parts thereof, purchased electricity, and fuels used to power machinery, when such items are used and dissipated in fabricating, converting, or processing tangible personal property for sale, even though they may become ingredients or components of the tangible personal property for sale through accident, wear, tear, erosion, corrosion, or similar means. The terms do not include the sale of materials to a registered repair facility for use in repairing a motor vehicle, airplane, or boat, when such materials are incorporated into and sold as part of the repair. Such a sale shall be deemed a purchase for resale by the repair facility, even though every material is not separately stated or separately priced on the repair invoice. (d) “Gross sales” means the sum total of all sales of tangible personal property as defined herein, without any deduction whatsoever of any kind or character, except as provided in this chapter. (e) The term “retail sale” includes a remote sale as defined in s. 212.0596(1). (f) The term “retail sale” includes a sale facilitated through a marketplace as defined in s. 212.05965(1). (15) “Sale” means and includes: (a) Any transfer of title or possession, or both, exchange, barter, license, lease, or rental, conditional or otherwise, in any manner or by any means whatsoever, of tangible personal property for a consideration. (b) The rental of living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations in hotels, apartment houses or roominghouses, or tourist or trailer camps, as hereinafter defined in this chapter. (c) The producing, fabricating, processing, printing, or imprinting of tangible personal property for a consideration for consumers who furnish either directly or indirectly the materials used in the producing, fabricating, processing, printing, or imprinting. (d) The furnishing, preparing, or serving for a consideration of any tangible personal property for consumption on or off the premises of the person furnishing, preparing, or serving such tangible personal property which includes the sale of meals or prepared food by an employer to his or her employees. (e) A transaction whereby the possession of property is transferred but the seller retains title as security for the payment of the price. (16) “Sales price” means the total amount paid for tangible personal property, including any services that are a part of the sale, valued in money, whether paid in money or otherwise, and includes any amount for which credit is given to the purchaser by the seller, without any deduction therefrom on account of the cost of the property sold, the cost of materials used, labor or service cost, interest charged, losses, or any other expense whatsoever. “Sales price” also includes the consideration for a transaction which requires both labor and material to alter, remodel, maintain, adjust, or repair tangible personal property. Trade-ins or discounts allowed and taken at the time of sale shall not be included within the purview of this subsection. “Sales price” also includes the full face value of any coupon used by a purchaser to reduce the price paid to a retailer for an item of tangible personal property; where the retailer will be reimbursed for such coupon, in whole or in part, by the manufacturer of the item of tangible personal property; or whenever it is not practicable for the retailer to determine, at the time of sale, the extent to which reimbursement for the coupon will be made. The term “sales price” does not include federal excise taxes imposed upon the retailer on the sale of tangible personal property. The term “sales price” does include federal manufacturers’ excise taxes, even if the federal tax is listed as a separate item on the invoice. To the extent required by federal law, the term “sales price” does not include charges for Internet access services which are not itemized on the customer’s bill, but which can be reasonably identified from the selling dealer’s books and records kept in the regular course of business. The dealer may support the allocation of charges with books and records kept in the regular course of business covering the dealer’s entire service area, including territories outside this state. (17) “Diesel fuel” means any liquid product, gas product, or combination thereof used in an internal combustion engine or motor to propel any form of vehicle, machine, or mechanical contrivance. This term includes, but is not limited to, all forms of fuel commonly or commercially known or sold as diesel fuel or kerosene. However, the term “diesel fuel” does not include butane gas, propane gas, or any other form of liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas. (18) “Storage” means and includes any keeping or retention in this state of tangible personal property for use or consumption in this state or for any purpose other than sale at retail in the regular course of business. (19) “Tangible personal property” means and includes personal property which may be seen, weighed, measured, or touched or is in any manner perceptible to the senses, including electric power or energy, boats, motor vehicles and mobile homes as defined in s. 320.01(1) and (2), aircraft as defined in s. 330.27, and all other types of vehicles. The term “tangible personal property” does not include stocks, bonds, notes, insurance, or other obligations or securities or pari-mutuel tickets sold or issued under the racing laws of the state. (20) “Use” means and includes the exercise of any right or power over tangible personal property incident to the ownership thereof, or interest therein, except that it does not include the sale at retail of that property in the regular course of business. The term “use” does not include the loan of an automobile by a motor vehicle dealer to a high school for use in its driver education and safety program. The term “use” does not include a contractor’s use of “qualifying property” as defined by paragraph (14)(a). (21) The term “use tax” referred to in this chapter includes the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the storage as herein defined. (22) “Spaceport activities” means activities directed or sponsored by Space Florida on spaceport territory pursuant to its powers and responsibilities under the Space Florida Act. (23) “Space flight” means any flight designed for suborbital, orbital, or interplanetary travel of a space vehicle, satellite, or station of any kind. (24) “Coin-operated amusement machine” means any machine operated by coin, slug, token, coupon, or similar device for the purposes of entertainment or amusement. The term includes, but is not limited to, coin-operated pinball machines, music machines, juke boxes, mechanical games, video games, arcade games, billiard tables, moving picture viewers, shooting galleries, and all other similar amusement devices. (25) “Sea trial” means a voyage for the purpose of testing repair or modification work, which is in length and scope reasonably necessary to test repairs or modifications, or a voyage for the purpose of ascertaining the seaworthiness of a vessel. If the sea trial is to test repair or modification work, the owner or repair facility shall certify, in a form required by the department, what repairs have been tested. The owner and the repair facility may also be required to certify that the length and scope of the voyage were reasonably necessary to test the repairs or modifications. (26) “Solar energy system” means the equipment and requisite hardware that provide and are used for collecting, transferring, converting, storing, or using incident solar energy for water heating, space heating, cooling, or other applications that would otherwise require the use of a conventional source of energy such as petroleum products, natural gas, manufactured gas, or electricity. (27) “Agricultural commodity” means horticultural, aquacultural, poultry and farm products, and livestock and livestock products. (28) “Farmer” means a person who is directly engaged in the business of producing crops, livestock, or other agricultural commodities. The term includes, but is not limited to, horse breeders, nurserymen, dairy farmers, poultry farmers, cattle ranchers, apiarists, and persons raising fish. (29) “Livestock” includes all animals of the equine, bovine, or swine class, including goats, sheep, mules, horses, hogs, cattle, ostriches, and other grazing animals raised for commercial purposes. The term also includes all aquaculture products, as defined in s. 597.0015 and identified by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services pursuant to s. 597.003, raised for commercial purposes. (30) “Power farm equipment” means moving or stationary equipment that contains within itself the means for its own propulsion or power and moving or stationary equipment that is dependent upon an external power source to perform its functions. (31) “Forest” means the land stocked by trees of any size used in the production of forest products, or formerly having such tree cover, and not currently developed for nonforest use. (32) “Agricultural production” means the production of plants and animals useful to humans, including the preparation, planting, cultivating, or harvesting of these products or any other practices necessary to accomplish production through the harvest phase, including storage of raw products on a farm. The term includes aquaculture, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, forestry, dairy, livestock, poultry, bees, and any and all forms of farm products and farm production. (33) “Qualified aircraft” means any aircraft having a maximum certified takeoff weight of less than 10,000 pounds and equipped with twin turbofan engines that meet Stage IV noise requirements that is used by a business operating as an on-demand air carrier under Federal Aviation Administration Regulation Title 14, chapter I, part 135, Code of Federal Regulations, that owns or leases and operates a fleet of at least 25 of such aircraft in this state. (34) “Fractional aircraft ownership program” means a program that meets the requirements of 14 C.F.R. part 91, subpart K, relating to fractional ownership operations, except that the program must include a minimum of 25 aircraft owned or leased by the program manager and used in the program. History. — s. 2, ch. 26319, 1949; ss. 1-3, ch. 26871, 1951; s. 1, ch. 29883, 1955; s. 13, ch. 59-1; ss. 1-4, ch. 59-288; s. 3, ch. 61-274; s. 1, ch. 63-526; s. 7, ch. 63-253; ss. 1-3, ch. 65-329; s. 5, ch. 65-371; s. 2, ch. 65-420; s. 1, ch. 67-180; ss. 1, 2, ch. 68-27; s. 1, ch. 68-119; ss. 21, 35, ch. 69-106; ss. 1-3, ch. 69-222; s. 1, ch. 70-206; s. 1, ch. 71-360; s. 47, ch. 71-377; s. 2, ch. 71-986; s. 3, ch. 73-240; s. 1, ch. 76-7; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 1, ch. 77-412; s. 1, ch. 78-250; ss. 1, 3, ch. 79-339; s. 1, ch. 79-359; s. 1, ch. 80-213; s. 6, ch. 82-75; s. 2, ch. 82-206; s. 1, ch. 83-3; s. 15, ch. 83-138; s. 5, ch. 84-170; s. 2, ch. 84-315; ss. 1, 9, ch. 84-324; s. 1, ch. 84-350; s. 33, ch. 84-356; s. 1, ch. 85-310; ss. 58, 65, ch. 85-342; s. 5, ch. 85-348; s. 64, ch. 86-152; s. 1, ch. 86-166; s. 7, ch. 87-6; s. 12, ch. 87-87; s. 9, ch. 87-101; s. 6, ch. 87-402; s. 1, ch. 87-548; ss. 26, 61, ch. 89-300; s. 8, ch. 90-192; s. 29, ch. 90-203; s. 2, ch. 90-358; ss. 23, 170, ch. 91-112; s. 9, ch. 92-319; s. 41, ch. 94-136; s. 31, ch. 95-146; s. 1491, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 95-232; s. 59, ch. 95-280; s. 1, ch. 95-391; s. 111, ch. 95-417; s. 160, ch. 96-320; s. 17, ch. 97-99; s. 1, ch. 98-140; s. 1, ch. 98-142; s. 1, ch. 98-294; s. 4, ch. 98-342; s. 8, ch. 99-7; s. 12, ch. 99-208; s. 1, ch. 99-273; s. 38, ch. 2000-151; s. 1, ch. 2000-276; s. 9, ch. 2000-308; s. 3, ch. 2002-183; s. 12, ch. 2002-218; s. 142, ch. 2004-390; s. 16, ch. 2005-187; s. 1, ch. 2005-197; s. 20, ch. 2005-287; s. 53, ch. 2006-60; s. 1, ch. 2006-144; s. 17, ch. 2006-312; s. 19, ch. 2007-106; s. 4, ch. 2010-147; s. 11, ch. 2015-221; s. 2, ch. 2021-2; s. 36, ch. 2025-208. 1 Note. — Abolished by s. 101, Pub. L. No. 104-88. 212.03 Transient rentals tax; rate, procedure, enforcement, exemptions. (1)(a) It is hereby declared to be the legislative intent that every person is exercising a taxable privilege who engages in the business of renting, leasing, letting, or granting a license to use any living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations in, from, or a part of, or in connection with any hotel, apartment house, roominghouse, tourist or trailer camp, mobile home park, recreational vehicle park, condominium, or timeshare resort. However, any person who rents, leases, lets, or grants a license to others to use, occupy, or enter upon any living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations in any apartment house, roominghouse, tourist camp, trailer camp, mobile home park, recreational vehicle park, condominium, or timeshare resort and who exclusively enters into a bona fide written agreement for continuous residence for longer than 6 months in duration at such property is not exercising a taxable privilege. For the exercise of such taxable privilege, a tax is hereby levied in an amount equal to 6 percent of and on the total rental charged for such living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations by the person charging or collecting the rental. Such tax shall apply to hotels, apartment houses, roominghouses, tourist or trailer camps, mobile home parks, recreational vehicle parks, condominiums, or timeshare resorts, whether or not these facilities have dining rooms, cafes, or other places where meals or lunches are sold or served to guests. (b)1. Tax shall be due on the consideration paid for occupancy in the county pursuant to a regulated short-term product, as defined in s. 721.05, or occupancy in the county pursuant to a product that would be deemed a regulated short-term product if the agreement to purchase the short-term right was executed in this state. Such tax shall be collected on the last day of occupancy within the county unless such consideration is applied to the purchase of a timeshare estate. The occupancy of an accommodation of a timeshare resort pursuant to a timeshare plan, a multisite timeshare plan, or an exchange transaction in an exchange program, as defined in s. 721.05, by the owner of a timeshare interest or such owner’s guest, which guest is not paying monetary consideration to the owner or to a third party for the benefit of the owner, is not a privilege subject to taxation under this section. A membership or transaction fee paid by a timeshare owner that does not provide the timeshare owner with the right to occupy any specific timeshare unit but merely provides the timeshare owner with the opportunity to exchange a timeshare interest through an exchange program is a service charge and not subject to taxation under this section. 2. Consideration paid for the purchase of a timeshare license in a timeshare plan, as defined in s. 721.05, is rent subject to taxation under this section. (2) The tax provided for herein shall be in addition to the total amount of the rental, shall be charged by the lessor or person receiving the rent in and by said rental arrangement to the lessee or person paying the rental, and shall be due and payable at the time of the receipt of such rental payment by the lessor or person, as defined in this chapter, who receives said rental or payment. The owner, lessor, or person receiving the rent shall remit the tax to the department at the times and in the manner hereinafter provided for dealers to remit taxes under this chapter. The same duties imposed by this chapter upon dealers in tangible personal property respecting the collection and remission of the tax; the making of returns; the keeping of books, records, and accounts; and the compliance with the rules and regulations of the department in the administration of this chapter shall apply to and be binding upon all persons who manage or operate hotels, apartment houses, roominghouses, tourist and trailer camps, and the rental of condominium units, and to all persons who collect or receive such rents on behalf of such owner or lessor taxable under this chapter. (3) When rentals are received by way of property, goods, wares, merchandise, services, or other things of value, the tax shall be at the rate of 6 percent of the value of the property, goods, wares, merchandise, services, or other things of value. (4) The tax levied by this section shall not apply to, be imposed upon, or collected from any person who shall have entered into a bona fide written lease for longer than 6 months in duration for continuous residence at any one hotel, apartment house, roominghouse, tourist or trailer camp, or condominium, or to any person who shall reside continuously longer than 6 months at any one hotel, apartment house, roominghouse, tourist or trailer camp, or condominium and shall have paid the tax levied by this section for 6 months of residence in any one hotel, roominghouse, apartment house, tourist or trailer camp, or condominium. Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, no tax shall be imposed upon rooms provided guests when there is no consideration involved between the guest and the public lodging establishment. Further, any person who, on the effective date of this act, has resided continuously for 6 months at any one hotel, apartment house, roominghouse, tourist or trailer camp, or condominium, or, if less than 6 months, has paid the tax imposed herein until he or she shall have resided continuously for 6 months, shall thereafter be exempt, so long as such person shall continuously reside at such location. The Department of Revenue shall have the power to reform the rental contract for the purposes of this chapter if the rental payments are collected in other than equal daily, weekly, or monthly amounts so as to reflect the actual consideration to be paid in the future for the right of occupancy during the first 6 months. (5) The tax imposed by this section shall constitute a lien on the property of the lessee or rentee of any sleeping accommodations in the same manner as and shall be collectible as are liens authorized and imposed by ss. 713.68 and 713.69. (6) The Legislature finds that every person who leases or rents parking or storage spaces for motor vehicles in parking lots or garages, including storage facilities for towed vehicles, who leases or rents docking or storage spaces for boats in boat docks or marinas, or who leases or rents tie-down or storage space for aircraft at airports is engaging in a taxable privilege. (a) For the exercise of this privilege, a tax is hereby levied at the rate of 6 percent on the total rental charged. (b) Charges for parking, docking, tie-down, or storage arising from a lawful impoundment are not subject to taxation under this subsection. As used in this paragraph, the term “lawful impoundment” means the storing of or having custody over an aircraft, boat, or motor vehicle by, or at the direction of, a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency which the owner or the owner’s representative is not authorized to enter upon, have access to, or remove without the consent of the law enforcement agency. (7)(a) Full-time students enrolled in an institution offering postsecondary education and military personnel currently on active duty who reside in the facilities described in subsection (1) shall be exempt from the tax imposed by this section. The department shall be empowered to determine what shall be deemed acceptable proof of full-time enrollment. The exemption contained in this subsection shall apply irrespective of any other provisions of this section. The tax levied by this section shall not apply to or be imposed upon or collected on the basis of rentals to any person who resides in any building or group of buildings intended primarily for lease or rent to persons as their permanent or principal place of residence. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that this subsection provide tax relief for persons who rent living accommodations rather than own their homes, while still providing a tax on the rental of lodging facilities that primarily serve transient guests. (c) The rental of facilities, as defined in s. 212.02(10)(f), which are intended primarily for rental as a principal or permanent place of residence is exempt from the tax imposed by this chapter. The rental of such facilities that primarily serve transient guests is not exempt by this subsection. In the application of this law, or in making any determination against the exemption, the department shall consider the facility as primarily serving transient guests unless the facility owner makes a verified declaration on a form prescribed by the department that more than half of the total rental units available are occupied by tenants who have a continuous residence in excess of 3 months. The owner of a facility declared to be exempt by this paragraph must make a determination of the taxable status of the facility at the end of the owner’s accounting year using any consecutive 3-month period at least one month of which is in the accounting year. The owner must use a selected consecutive 3-month period during each annual redetermination. In the event that an exempt facility no longer qualifies for exemption by this paragraph, the owner must notify the department on a form prescribed by the department by the 20th day of the first month of the owner’s next succeeding accounting year that the facility no longer qualifies for such exemption. The tax levied by this section shall apply to the rental of facilities that no longer qualify for exemption under this paragraph beginning the first day of the owner’s next succeeding accounting year. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to mobile home lots regulated under chapter 723. (d) The rental of living accommodations in migrant labor camps is not taxable under this section. “Migrant labor camps” are defined as one or more buildings or structures, tents, trailers, or vehicles, or any portion thereof, together with the land appertaining thereto, established, operated, or used as living quarters for seasonal, temporary, or migrant workers. History. — s. 3, ch. 26319, 1949; s. 4, ch. 26871, 1951; ss. 2, 3, ch. 29883, 1955; ss. 2, 7, ch. 63-526; s. 7, ch. 63-253; s. 5, ch. 65-371; s. 2, ch. 65-420; s. 3, ch. 68-27; s. 2, ch. 68-119; ss. 4, 5, ch. 69-222; s. 15, ch. 69-353; ss. 21, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 71-986; s. 2, ch. 79-359; s. 1, ch. 82-154; s. 70, ch. 83-217; s. 59, ch. 85-342; s. 2, ch. 87-548; s. 1, ch. 89-362; s. 4, ch. 89-529; s. 7, ch. 94-353; s. 1492, ch. 95-147; s. 2, ch. 98-140; s. 3, ch. 2009-133; s. 2, ch. 2014-40. 212.0305 Convention development taxes; intent; administration; authorization; use of proceeds. (1) TITLE. — This section may be cited as the “Convention Development Tax Act.” (2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT. — No convention development tax on transient rentals shall be imposed by the governing body of any county unless specifically authorized herein. Any tax authorized pursuant to this section shall be administered and collected exclusively as provided herein and may consist of one or more component levies as enumerated in subsection (4). It is the legislative intent that any authorization for imposition of a convention development tax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a paragraph of subsection (4), irrespective of the duration of the levy. Each enactment shall specify the types of local governments authorized to levy a convention development tax; the rate or rates which may be imposed; the maximum length of time the tax may be imposed, if any; the procedure which must be followed to secure voter approval, if required; the purpose for which the proceeds may be expended; and such other requirements as the Legislature may provide. One of the principal purposes of the convention development tax is to promote tourism and the use of hotel facilities by facilitating the improvement and construction of convention centers. Any municipality or county wherein the convention development tax is levied is specifically authorized to adopt and implement a convention center booking policy to apply to convention centers owned or operated by a municipality or county which gives priority to bookings after July 1, 1993, in accordance with the minimum number of hotel rooms to be utilized in connection with such convention center bookings or in accordance with the impact of such bookings on the convention development tax generated. (3) APPLICATION; ADMINISTRATION; PENALTIES. — (a)1. The convention development tax on transient rentals imposed by the governing body of any county authorized to so levy shall apply to the amount of any payment made by any person to rent, lease, or use for a period of 6 months or less any living quarters or accommodations in a hotel, apartment hotel, motel, resort motel, apartment, apartment motel, roominghouse, tourist or trailer camp, mobile home park, recreational vehicle park, condominium, or timeshare resort. When receipt of consideration is by way of property other than money, the tax shall be levied and imposed on the fair market value of such nonmonetary consideration. Any payment made by a person to rent, lease, or use any living quarters or accommodations which are exempt from the tax imposed under s. 212.03 shall likewise be exempt from any tax imposed under this section. 2.a. Tax shall be due on the consideration paid for occupancy in the county pursuant to a regulated short-term product, as defined in s. 721.05, or occupancy in the county pursuant to a product that would be deemed a regulated short-term product if the agreement to purchase the short-term right was executed in this state. Such tax shall be collected on the last day of occupancy within the county unless such consideration is applied to the purchase of a timeshare estate. The occupancy of an accommodation of a timeshare resort pursuant to a timeshare plan, a multisite timeshare plan, or an exchange transaction in an exchange program, as defined in s. 721.05, by the owner of a timeshare interest or such owner’s guest, which guest is not paying monetary consideration to the owner or to a third party for the benefit of the owner, is not a privilege subject to taxation under this section. A membership or transaction fee paid by a timeshare owner that does not provide the timeshare owner with the right to occupy any specific timeshare unit but merely provides the timeshare owner with the opportunity to exchange a timeshare interest through an exchange program is a service charge and not subject to taxation under this section. b. Consideration paid for the purchase of a timeshare license in a timeshare plan, as defined in s. 721.05, is rent subject to taxation under this section. (b) The tax shall be charged by the person receiving the consideration for the lease or rental, and the tax shall be collected from the lessee, tenant, or customer at the time of payment of the consideration for such lease or rental. (c) The person receiving the consideration for such rental or lease shall receive, account for, and remit the tax to the department at the time and in the manner provided for persons who collect and remit taxes under s. 212.03. The same duties and privileges imposed by this chapter upon dealers in tangible property respecting the collection and remission of tax; the making of returns; the keeping of books, records, and accounts; and compliance with the rules of the department in the administration of this chapter apply to and are binding upon all persons who are subject to the provisions of this section. However, the department may authorize a quarterly return and payment when the tax remitted by the dealer for the preceding quarter did not exceed $25. (d) The department shall keep records showing the amount of taxes collected, which records shall disclose the taxes collected from each county in which a local government resort tax is levied. These records shall be subject to the provisions of s. 213.053 and are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). (e) The collections received by the department from the tax, less costs of administration, shall be paid and returned monthly to the county which imposed the tax, for use by the county as provided in this section. Such receipts shall be placed in a specific trust fund or funds created by the county. (f) The department shall promulgate such rules and shall prescribe and publish such forms as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. The department is authorized to establish audit procedures and to assess for delinquent taxes. (g) The estimated tax provisions contained in s. 212.11 do not apply to the administration of any tax levied under this section. (h) Any person taxable under this section who, either by himself or herself or through the person’s agents or employees, fails or refuses to charge and collect the taxes herein provided from the person paying any rental or lease is, in addition to being personally liable for the payment of the tax, guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (i) No person shall advertise or hold out to the public in any manner, directly or indirectly, that he or she will absorb all or any part of the tax; that he or she will relieve the person paying the rental of the payment of all or any part of the tax; or that the tax will not be added to the rental or lease consideration or, if added, that the tax or any part thereof will be refunded or refused, either directly or indirectly, by any method whatsoever. Any person who willfully violates any provision of this paragraph is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (j) The tax shall constitute a lien on the property of the lessee, customer, or tenant in the same manner as, and shall be collectible as are, liens authorized and imposed by ss. 713.67, 713.68, and 713.69. (k) Any tax levied pursuant to this section shall be in addition to any other tax imposed pursuant to this chapter and in addition to all other taxes and fees and the consideration for the rental or lease. (l) The department shall administer the taxes levied herein as increases in the rate of the tax authorized in s. 125.0104. The department shall collect and enforce the provisions of this section and s. 125.0104 in conjunction with each other in those counties authorized to levy the taxes authorized herein. The department shall distribute the proceeds received from the taxes levied pursuant to this section and s. 125.0104 in proportion to the rates of the taxes authorized to the appropriate trust funds as provided by law. In the event of underpayment of the total amount due by a taxpayer pursuant to this section and s. 125.0104, the department shall distribute the amount received in proportion to the rates of the taxes authorized to the appropriate trust funds as provided by law and the penalties and interest due on both of said taxes shall be applicable. (4) AUTHORIZATION TO LEVY; USE OF PROCEEDS; OTHER REQUIREMENTS. — (a) Consolidated government levy for convention development. — 1. Each county that operates under a government consolidated with that of one or more municipalities in the county may impose, pursuant to an ordinance enacted by the governing body of the county, a levy on the exercise within its boundaries of the taxable privilege of leasing or letting transient rental accommodations described in subsection (3) at the rate of 2 percent of each dollar and major fraction of each dollar of the total consideration charged therefor. The proceeds of this levy shall be known as the consolidated county convention development tax. 2. The county shall furnish to the department, within 10 days after approval of the ordinance imposing the levy, a copy of the ordinance. The effective date of imposition of the levy must be the first day of any month that is at least 60 days after enactment of the ordinance. 3. All consolidated county convention development moneys, including any interest accrued thereon, received by a county imposing the levy must be used in any of the following manners, although the utilization authorized in sub-subparagraph a. shall apply only to municipalities with a population of 10,000 or more: a. To promote and advertise tourism; b. To extend, enlarge, and improve existing publicly owned convention centers in the county; c. To construct a multipurpose convention/coliseum/exhibition center or the maximum components thereof as funds permit in the county; and d. To acquire, construct, extend, enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, or maintain one or more convention centers, stadiums, exhibition halls, arenas, coliseums, or auditoriums. 4. For the purposes of completion of any project under this paragraph, tax revenues and interest accrued may be used: a. As collateral, pledged, or hypothecated for projects authorized by this paragraph, including bonds issued in connection therewith; or b. As a pledge or capital contribution in conjunction with a partnership, joint venture, or other business arrangement between the county and one or more business entities for projects authorized by this paragraph. 5.a. The county may designate or appoint an authority to administer and disburse such proceeds and any other related source of revenue. However, the annual budget of the authority is subject to approval of the governing body of the county. b. Except as otherwise provided by law, one-half of the proceeds of the tax which are collected within a municipality the government of which is not consolidated with that of the county must, at the request of the governing body of the municipality, be remitted to the municipality. The revenue remitted to a municipality under this sub-subparagraph may be used by the municipality only for the purposes and in the manner authorized in this paragraph, but the municipality may enter into an interlocal agreement with the county or with any other municipality in the county to use such revenue to jointly finance any project authorized by this paragraph. This sub-subparagraph does not apply to the distribution to the county of any convention development tax revenues necessary to repay the principal of or the interest on any bonds issued under sub-subparagraph 4.a. before May 29, 1984. Notwithstanding this sub-subparagraph, if the governing body of such a municipality adopts a resolution stating that the municipality is unable to use such revenue for any purpose authorized in this paragraph, the municipality may use the revenue to acquire and develop municipal parks, lifeguard stations, or athletic fields. 6. The consolidated county convention development tax shall be in addition to any other levy imposed under this section. 7. Revenues collected and returned to the county must be deposited in a convention development trust fund, which must be established by the county as a condition precedent to receipt of such funds. (b) Charter county levy for convention development. — 1. Each county, as defined in s. 125.011(1), may impose, under an ordinance enacted by the governing body of the county, a levy on the exercise within its boundaries of the taxable privilege of leasing or letting transient rental accommodations described in subsection (3) at the rate of 3 percent of the total consideration charged therefor. The proceeds of this levy shall be known as the charter county convention development tax. 2. All charter county convention development moneys, including any interest accrued thereon, received by a county imposing the levy shall be used as follows: a. Two-thirds of the proceeds shall be used to extend, enlarge, and improve the largest existing publicly owned convention center in the county. b. One-third of the proceeds shall be used to construct a new multipurpose convention/coliseum/exhibition center/stadium or the maximum components thereof as funds permit in the most populous municipality in the county. c. After the completion of any project under sub-subparagraph a., the tax revenues and interest accrued under sub-subparagraph a. may be used to acquire, construct, extend, enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, plan for, operate, manage, or maintain one or more convention centers, stadiums, exhibition halls, arenas, coliseums, auditoriums, or golf courses, and may be used to acquire and construct an intercity light rail transportation system as described in the Light Rail Transit System Status Report to the Legislature dated April 1988, which shall provide a means to transport persons to and from the largest existing publicly owned convention center in the county and the hotels north of the convention center and to and from the downtown area of the most populous municipality in the county as determined by the county. d. After completion of any project under sub-subparagraph b., the tax revenues and interest accrued under sub-subparagraph b. may be used, as determined by the county, to operate an authority created pursuant to subparagraph 4. or to acquire, construct, extend, enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, operate, or maintain one or more convention centers, stadiums, exhibition halls, arenas, coliseums, auditoriums, golf courses, or related buildings and parking facilities in the most populous municipality in the county. e. For the purposes of completion of any project pursuant to this paragraph, tax revenues and interest accrued may be used: (I) As collateral, pledged, or hypothecated for projects authorized by this paragraph, including bonds issued in connection therewith; or (II) As a pledge or capital contribution in conjunction with a partnership, joint venture, or other business arrangement between a municipality and one or more business entities for projects authorized by this paragraph. 3. The governing body of each municipality in which a municipal tourist tax is levied may adopt a resolution prohibiting imposition of the charter county convention development levy within such municipality. If the governing body adopts such a resolution, the convention development levy shall be imposed by the county in all other areas of the county except such municipality. No funds collected pursuant to this paragraph may be expended in a municipality which has adopted such a resolution. 4.a. Before the county enacts an ordinance imposing the levy, the county shall notify the governing body of each municipality in which projects are to be developed pursuant to sub-subparagraph 2.a., sub-subparagraph 2.b., sub-subparagraph 2.c., or sub-subparagraph 2.d. As a condition precedent to receiving funding, the governing bodies of such municipalities shall designate or appoint an authority that shall have the sole power to: (I) Approve the concept, location, program, and design of the facilities or improvements to be built in accordance with this paragraph and to administer and disburse such proceeds and any other related source of revenue. (II) Appoint and dismiss the authority’s executive director, general counsel, and any other consultants retained by the authority. The governing body shall have the right to approve or disapprove the initial appointment of the authority’s executive director and general counsel. b. The members of each such authority shall serve for a term of not less than 1 year and shall be appointed by the governing body of such municipality. The annual budget of such authority shall be subject to approval of the governing body of the municipality. If the governing body does not approve the budget, the authority shall use as the authority’s budget the previous fiscal year budget. c. The authority, by resolution to be adopted from time to time, may invest and reinvest the proceeds from the convention development tax and any other revenues generated by the authority in the same manner that the municipality in which the authority is located may invest surplus funds. 5. The charter county convention development levy shall be in addition to any other levy imposed pursuant to this section. 6. A certified copy of the ordinance imposing the levy shall be furnished by the county to the department within 10 days after approval of such ordinance. The effective date of imposition of the levy shall be the first day of any month at least 60 days after enactment of the ordinance. 7. Revenues collected pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in a convention development trust fund, which shall be established by the county as a condition precedent to receipt of such funds. (c) Special district levy for convention development. — 1. Each county which was chartered under Art. VIII of the State Constitution and which on January 1, 1984, levied a tourist advertising ad valorem tax within a special taxing district in that county may impose, pursuant to an ordinance enacted by the governing body of the county, a levy within the boundaries of such special taxing district on the exercise of the taxable privilege of leasing or letting transient rental accommodations described in subsection (3) at a rate of up to 3 percent of each dollar and major fraction of each dollar of the total consideration charged therefor. The proceeds of this levy shall be known as the special district convention development tax. 2. The county shall designate or appoint an authority to administer and disburse the proceeds of such levy and any revenue related to the levy authorized by this paragraph. The members of such authority shall be selected from persons involved in the tourism and lodging industries doing business within such special district. Not less than a majority of the members shall be selected from persons doing business in the lodging industry. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the governing body of such county and shall serve without compensation. The annual budget of such authority shall be subject to approval of the governing body of the county. The authority shall consist of 11 members, who shall annually select a chair from among their members. 3. The county shall have no power to levy and impose the tourist advertising ad valorem tax in such district on or after January 1 of the year following the date of the adoption of the levy authorized in this paragraph. All special district convention development moneys, including any interest accrued thereon, received by a county imposing the special district convention development levy shall be used for the following purposes only: a. To promote and advertise tourism; b. To fund convention bureaus, tourist bureaus, tourist information centers, and news bureaus. 4. The special district convention development tax shall be in addition to any other levy imposed pursuant to this section. 5. A certified copy of the ordinance imposing the levy shall be furnished by the county to the department within 10 days after approval of such ordinance. The effective date of the levy shall be the first day of any month at least 60 days after enactment of the ordinance. 6. Revenues collected and returned to the county shall be deposited in a convention development trust fund, which shall be established by the county as a condition precedent to receipt of such funds. (d) Special levy for convention development. — 1. Each county which was chartered under Art. VIII of the State Constitution and which on January 1, 1984, levied a tourist advertising ad valorem tax within a special taxing district in that county may impose, pursuant to an ordinance enacted by the governing body of the county, a levy outside the boundaries of such special taxing district and to the southeast of State Road 415, on the exercise of the taxable privilege of leasing or letting transient rental accommodations described in subsection (3), at a rate of up to 3 percent of each dollar and major fraction of each dollar of the total consideration charged therefor. The proceeds of this levy shall be known as the special convention development tax. 2. The county shall designate or appoint an authority to administer and disburse the proceeds of such levy and any revenue related to the levy authorized by this paragraph. The members of the authority shall be selected from persons doing business within the area in which the tax is levied. Not less than three of the members shall be selected from persons doing business in the lodging industry. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the governing body of the county and shall serve without compensation. The annual budget of the authority shall be subject to approval of the governing body of the county. The authority shall consist of seven members, who shall annually select a chair from among their members. 3. All special convention development moneys, including any interest accrued thereon, received by a county imposing the special convention development levy shall be used for the following purposes only: a. To promote and advertise tourism; b. To fund convention bureaus, tourist bureaus, tourist information centers, and news bureaus. 4. The special convention development tax shall be in addition to any other levy imposed pursuant to this section. 5. A certified copy of the ordinance imposing the levy shall be furnished by the county to the department within 10 days after approval of the ordinance. The effective date of the levy shall be the first day of any month at least 60 days after enactment of the ordinance. 6. Revenues collected and returned to the county shall be deposited in a separate convention development trust fund, which shall be established by the county as a condition precedent to receipt of such funds. (e) Subcounty levy for convention development. — 1. Each county which was chartered under Art. VIII of the State Constitution and which on January 1, 1984, levied a tourist advertising ad valorem tax within a special taxing district in that county may impose, pursuant to an ordinance enacted by the governing body of the county, a levy outside the boundaries of such special taxing district and to the northwest of State Road 415, on the exercise of the taxable privilege of leasing or letting transient rental accommodations described in subsection (3), at a rate of up to 3 percent of each dollar and major fraction of each dollar of the total consideration charged therefor. The proceeds of this levy shall be known as the subcounty convention development tax. 2. The county shall designate or appoint an authority to administer and disburse the proceeds of such levy and any revenue related to the levy authorized by this paragraph. The members of the authority shall be selected from persons doing business within the area in which the tax is levied. Not less than three of the members shall be selected from persons doing business in the lodging industry. Members shall serve at the ple