If you’re selling digital services and products to customers in Florida, then you might be liable for Florida’s sales tax. This guide covers two very important parts of the system:
- Registering for the tax, and then
- Filing tax returns on time.
We’ve scoured the Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR) website to provide you with all the necessary information about sales tax for out-of-state businesses in one place.
How to register for sales tax in Florida
Remote sellers register for sales tax in Florida according to where you are based.
US businesses (or businesses that have a physical address in the United States) can register online via the FDOR website. This portal is also where you’ll file and pay your tax returns. More on that later!
International businesses must register by filling out a form and emailing it to the Florida Comptroller office. You’ll find more information below.
US businesses
The first step is to create a new user profile on the FDOR website and then fill out the tax registration application.
Before you begin, it helps to gather certain business information you’ll need. Be prepared to share the following details:
- Your social security number or visa number
- Your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), if you have one
- Your driver license number, state ID number, or other ID
- Names and location of banks where you have an account
- Expected average monthly sales and the amount of those sales which are taxable
- Your industry’s North American Industry Classification System number. (Each number is a 2-6 digit code. You can find yours in the NAICS directory.)
Then when you’re ready, you can get started!
- Head to the Department’s Florida Business Tax Application page to create your new account. At the bottom left, click Create User Profile.
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Once you’ve created your new user profile, you can log in to fill out the tax registration application.
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When complete, submit the application! If you have any problems or questions, you can reach the FDOR at emailDOR@floridarevenue.com or call 1-850-488-6800.
Allow the office at least three business days to process your application. After that, you’re free to sign in to your new online account and check the status of your application.
There in your web account, you’ll find the certificate of registration and your business tax number.
You’ll also be assigned a tax filing frequency: monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
International businesses
In summary, the registration process is simple! But you must fill out a physical copy of Form DR-1, Florida Business Tax Application and then snail mail it to the FDOR office:
Account Management MS 1-5730
Florida Department of Revenue
5050 W Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0160
USA
That said, the form requires a lot of information, so it’s worth looking through and gathering all the necessary documents and details ahead of time.
Things to note:
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The very first question asks about a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN or EIN). If you aren’t familiar with this, take a moment to read about what an EIN number is and how to get one.
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You need to identify which industry you’re working in by providing its North American Industry Classification System number. Each number is a 2-6 digit code. You can find yours in the NAICS directory.
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Toward the bottom of the form, there’s a section about filing and paying electronically. As a remote seller, you must enroll for both. (And why wouldn’t you? It makes your life easier!)
- Regarding Question 39: Florida cannot accept international ACH transactions, due to federal security requirements. If you wish to make payments to FDOR from financial institutions located outside the US, then you must contact them to make other arrangements. Email emailDOR@floridarevenue.com or call 1-850-488-6800.
Once your application is processed, you will receive a user ID and password for your new tax account, which gives you access to the online portal. You may log in to edit any of the information regarding contact details, banking, or payment method.
There in your web account, you’ll find the certificate of registration and your business tax number. This account is where you’ll file and pay your tax returns (more on that in the next section!).
You’ll also be assigned a tax filing frequency: monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
How to file sales tax returns in Florida
Sales and taxes should be reported and filed using US dollars. If you’ve made any transactions in Florida in a different currency, be sure to convert those to USD using official currency exchange rates.
When to file and pay
You must file a sales tax return either monthly, quarterly, or yearly. The deadlines are as follows:
Monthly
For monthly filers, reports are due on the 20th of the month following the reporting month. For example, the April sales tax report is due May 20.
Quarterly
For quarterly filers, reports are due on the 20th of the month following the reporting period.
- April 20, for first quarter ending March 31
- July 20, for second quarter ending June 30
- October 20, for third quarter ending September 30
- January 20, for fourth quarter ending December 31
Yearly
For yearly filers, reports for the previous year are due on January 20.
Note: Didn’t make any sales in Florida during your reporting period? You should still report that. This is called a “zero return” and it follows the exact same process as a normal return. (Just a little less data entry 😉)
How to file
Before you get started, you should collect all the information about your taxable sales in Florida during the previous quarter. The tax website suggests having these pieces ready:
- total sales and income
- total purchases and expenses
You can file online at the FDOR’s Sales and Use Tax Surcharge website. You can log in here.
After submitting your tax return, you should receive confirmation and payment instructions.
How to pay
Tax payments must be in US dollars.
For US-based businesses, payments should be made using the method you selected when you first registered for sales tax, either credit or debit ACH payment.
International businesses should use the method you have specifically arranged with Florida’s Department of Revenue.
Note: For your electronic payment to arrive on time, banking rules require that the payment must be transmitted no later than 5 p.m. ET on the banking business day prior to the 20th. Otherwise you might get a fine!
On a brighter note: When you electronically file your return and electronically pay on time, you’re entitled to deduct a collection allowance. The collection allowance is 2.5% (.025) of the first $1,200 of tax due, not to exceed $30.
What to do in between registering and filing?
Well, you must comply with all the rules for Florida sales tax! That means charging at least 6% sales tax and watching out for local level taxes, among other things.
For further reading that will help you stay compliant and successful as a remote seller, check out our Business Guide to Sales Tax in Florida.
Note: At Quaderno we love providing helpful information and best practices about taxes, but we are not certified tax advisors. For further help, or if you are ever in doubt, please consult a professional tax advisor or the tax authorities.