01/20/2009 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Wheeler, commenting on the sales tax, was curious as to how the State rationalizes or justifies the sales tax for cars purchased and registered outside of the State but later returned to Florida. Mr. Bass's understanding was that there is an exemption for the boat industry; however, the aviation industry was not put into the Florida Tax Code. House Representative Ralph Poppell described the legislative efforts, last year, of trying to get a Bill that would rectify the purchasing of aircraft, not only in Florida, but out of Florida, and for bringing purchases into Florida. The law, as written, stated that if you sat on a board of directors or if you had a second home or business here, or if you had some tie to Florida, the Department of Revenue would look at that as though you were trying to circumvent paying the taxes, which was in most cases, erroneous. He said there was no real answer to what the State does or doesn't do; and the truth is, there are no teeth in that law that would allow the DOR to go after someone and collect; and that was not only mistreating the wrong people but sending the wrong message. Representative Poppell reported that Bill No. 51 will be coming out later this year and it attempts, from a tax standpoint, with the southeastern states, that you can go to South Carolina, buy the same aircraft that you would buy in Florida and if it was one of Piper's top line aircraft instead of a $2 million airplane in Florida, you would pay your normal 6% on that plus whatever the county's fees are, depending on what State you are in. He said aircraft purchasing in the State of Florida, like flight school, is a wonderful idea; and they are looking into that along with Enterprise Florida and the Governor's office of what they can do to incentivize the flight schools to buy in Florida. Commissioner Wheeler offered the County's assistance to make this endeavor happen, perhaps through resolution or with our Lobbyist. January 20, 2009