STATE AND LOCAL TAXES

Florida does not have a personal income tax.  Our state constitution forbids it.   We also haave no tax on intangible personalproperty.

SALES TAX:  The statewide sales tax is 6 %.  Leon County levies and additional 1.5%, making our local sales tax rate 7.5%.  One penny of that goes to support local government infrasturcture, while the half penny is a surtax that pays for capita improvements at local schools.

Items exempt from sales tax inlude food, prescribed medications, most household remedies, most prosthetic and orthopedic appliances, optical goods, most infant supplies and some fertilizers and garden items.  Cosmetics and toliet articles are taxable, as is food prepared on the seller's premises and sold for immediate consumption.

CORPORATE INCOME TAX:  Our rate is 5.5 %.  Corporations that conduct business or receive income in Florida must file a corpoate income-tax return.  Sole proprietorships are exempt.  Tax liability is computed using federal taxable income.  Businesses located in enterprise zones, which encourage development in struggling aeras, may be eligible for incentives like tax breaks.  They also may receive various tax credits for making donations to approved community-based organizations or government agencies, contributing to nonprofit scholarship funds, producing renewable energy or investing in certain environmentally-friendly technologies.

LOCAL TAXES;  Property Tax:  Florida property taxes are below the national average, and Leon County is close to the state average.  Homes purchased in Florida are subject to a property tax based on the value of the property.  Certain exemptions are available to widows and widowers, residents who are blind or have other physical disabilities and people ages 65 years and older.  If the property owned is the permanent residence, there is a homestead exemption of up to $50,000.  The "Save Our Homes" amendment to the Florida Constitution limits the annual increase in assessment value to 3 % for properties with homestead exemption.

Documentary Stamp Tax:  This tax is applied to documents transferring ownership in Florida property.  This tax is levied at 70 cents per $100.  A tax is also applied to certain renewal notes, bonds, mortgages, lien, and other written obligations to pay.  The tax is 35 cents per $100.