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Did Florida pass a law enforcing collection of taxes on online purchases from out-of-state merchants?

Thursday, April 22, 2021
By Stevie Rosignol-Cortez
YES

Florida recently enacted a law enforcing collection of taxes due on online sales by out-of-state merchants, requiring sellers to collect the taxes at the time of a transaction. The move follows a 2018 Supreme Court ruling confirming that states could enforce sales-tax collection on transactions with sellers based in other states.

The measure is expected to cost Floridians an estimated $40-$50 annually, raising $1 billion of new revenue to rebuild the state’s depleted unemployment compensation fund. “To be clear, these taxes are owed already,” Jared Walczak, a Tax Foundation researcher, noted.

The timing of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signing of the bill, late at night and without the media attention sought for some more popular legislation, generated comment from the Republican governor’s political opponents.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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