An analysis of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' record during his first four years in office shows that he has cut taxes for businesses — but raised taxes on consumers
Ah, that's right. I didn't get into this detail in the story, but the business rent tax cut doesn't go into effect until they've finished replenishing the unemployment trust fund.
Sales tax on online purchases is leveling the playing field for brick and mortar stores and removing an unfair advantage to Amazon et al. However, giving all the tax money to businesses is another matter, indeed.
On a related note: I still try to purchase directly from Amazon when possible and therefore would have been paying sales tax since 2014 so... no expected personal effect.
Oh, yes, there were definitely some compelling policy arguments for *why* they should have passed this tax increase......Although the "bringing Florida in line with other states" is one of the most selectively used arguments in Tallahassee.
Florida is also one of only two states in the country that both has no person income *and* exempts pass-through businesses from its corporate income tax (meaning a bunch of privately held businesses, including some giant ones, pay no income tax at all)....And it's still in the shrinking minority of states that has yet to adopt combined reporting for corporate income taxes (allowing big corporations to dodge taxes by paying themselves to use their own name).
But unlike SB 50 and the online sales tax, business lobbyists don't want those corporate tax policies passed. So in those cases, they claim the fact that Florida is NOT in line with other states is "a competitive advantage."
Ultimately, though, the big issues with SB 50 is what DeSantis and the Legislature did with all the extra money they started collecting from Floridians. They gave it all to businesses. That's the subject of tomorrow's podcast.
I'm somewhat surprised that the Marketplace sales account for such a large number in tax "revenue" which is what I alluded to with my last statement. So insofar as it *is* a tax increase, being able to argue that it is *not*--while the budget is magically more robust on account of it--is a valuable political tool for RD.
I believe there’s a typo re business rent tax reduction - should read 5.5% to 5.2% (not 2)?
Thank you for this excellent reporting.
No, Senate Bill 50 cut it from 5.5 percent to 2 percent. See section 14 (pages 51-52) of the bill: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/50/BillText/er/PDF
Thanks for the link! Apparently it’s not enacted yet because we are collecting/paying 5.5%
Ah, that's right. I didn't get into this detail in the story, but the business rent tax cut doesn't go into effect until they've finished replenishing the unemployment trust fund.
Ahh, shell games!
Thank you.
Sales tax on online purchases is leveling the playing field for brick and mortar stores and removing an unfair advantage to Amazon et al. However, giving all the tax money to businesses is another matter, indeed.
I wouldn't argue one way or another on whether SB 50 was a tax "increase" but it surely was bringing the tax situation in-line with other states. https://itep.org/a-visual-history-of-sales-tax-collection-at-amazon-com/
On a related note: I still try to purchase directly from Amazon when possible and therefore would have been paying sales tax since 2014 so... no expected personal effect.
Oh, yes, there were definitely some compelling policy arguments for *why* they should have passed this tax increase......Although the "bringing Florida in line with other states" is one of the most selectively used arguments in Tallahassee.
Florida is also one of only two states in the country that both has no person income *and* exempts pass-through businesses from its corporate income tax (meaning a bunch of privately held businesses, including some giant ones, pay no income tax at all)....And it's still in the shrinking minority of states that has yet to adopt combined reporting for corporate income taxes (allowing big corporations to dodge taxes by paying themselves to use their own name).
But unlike SB 50 and the online sales tax, business lobbyists don't want those corporate tax policies passed. So in those cases, they claim the fact that Florida is NOT in line with other states is "a competitive advantage."
Ultimately, though, the big issues with SB 50 is what DeSantis and the Legislature did with all the extra money they started collecting from Floridians. They gave it all to businesses. That's the subject of tomorrow's podcast.
I'm somewhat surprised that the Marketplace sales account for such a large number in tax "revenue" which is what I alluded to with my last statement. So insofar as it *is* a tax increase, being able to argue that it is *not*--while the budget is magically more robust on account of it--is a valuable political tool for RD.
Thank you for this journalism
Great Information ! Thanks you!