Florida State Tax Updates

Our Dash of SALT Blog provides the most recent developments and changes in state and local tax regulations. Here are the latest updates for Florida.

October 27, 2025

Florida DOR Proposals May Affect Corporate Income Tax Filing

Authored by: Katerine Velasquez and Penny Sweeting, CPA

On November 4, 2025, the Florida Department of Revenue (“DOR”) will hold a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to the corporate income tax. These amendments aim to exempt charitable trusts from the obligation to file a Florida corporate income tax return, effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Moreover, the proposed amendments will eliminate provisions related to the enterprise zone job credit and update the processes for claiming the new Rural Community Investment Program Credit. Applications for this credit have been open since January 1, 2025, but only a limited number of applicants are allowed.

If you have any questions about how state tax changes affect your business, please contact a member of the Withum SALT Team.

June 13, 2025

Florida Eliminates Sales Tax on Business Rent

Authored by: Courtney Easterday, MSA and Kshiti Kumari

The Florida House and Senate leaders are finalizing the state budget, which presently includes $2.25 billion in revenue reductions. Most notable is the elimination of the business rent tax. The state’s sales tax holidays on hurricane preparedness and back-to-school shopping have also been made permanent. The Florida budget was originally due by the May 2 legislature’s regular session adjournment deadline. The legislature was called back to an emergency session, and the budget is expected to be enacted by mid-June, before the start of the state’s fiscal year on July 1, 2025.

If you have questions about state tax budgets, please reach out to a member of the Withum SALT Team.

April 8, 2025

Florida Considers Sales Tax Holiday for Firearms and Ammunition in 2025

Authored by: Bonnie Susmano, JD, MBA and Emilia Jarrin

Florida lawmakers are considering a new sales tax holiday for firearms, ammunition, and related accessories, which would run from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July in 2025. If enacted, the sales tax holiday is expected to save Floridians approximately $8 million in sales tax.

If you have questions about state sales tax holidays, please reach out to a member of the Withum SALT Team.

December 11, 2024

Florida Sales Tax Exemption for R&D Expenditures Related to Engineered Attractions

Authored by: Bonnie Susmano, JD, MBA and Brandon Spinella

The Florida Department of Revenue (“Department”) issued Technical Assistance Advisement 24A-009 regarding a taxpayer’s Research and Development (“R&D”) expenditures about the Engineered Attractions and whether they qualify for exemption under 212.052, which provides an exemption for the fabrication of tangible personal property that is used in R&D activities that have one of the following objectives:

Basic research in a scientific field of endeavor.
Advancing knowledge or technology in a scientific or technical field of endeavor.
The development of a new product, whether it is offered for sale.
The improvement of an existing product, whether the improved product is offered for sale.
The development of new uses of an existing product, whether the new use is offered as a rationale to purchase the product; or
The design and development of prototypes, whether a resulting product is offered for sale.

For purposes of the exemption, the term “product” is broadly construed and includes any device, technique, prototype or invention that may be commercially exploitable. The term “cost” refers to tangible personal property fabricated during the R&D activities. In conclusion, the Department determined that the taxpayer’s R&D expenditures related to Engineered Attractions complied with the exemption provisions of s. 212.052 of the Florida Statutes, and Rule 12A-1.043(6) of the Florida Administrative Code.

If you have questions about State R&D incentives, please reach out to a member of the Withum SALT Team.

Disclaimer: Please note that this information is readily available at this time and is subject to change, so please consult your Withum tax advisor.