Thank Senator Gruters for Looking Out for Small Businesses

Senator Gruters Files Legislation to Protect Main Street Businesses

Advancing globally competitive tax policies is essential to helping Florida become a top 10 global economy. Thanks to new legislation filed by Senator Joe Gruters, Florida now has the opportunity to ensure a competitive and equitable tax system that encourages job growth and strengthens Florida’s economy.

Today, Florida’s small businesses face a six percent disadvantage compared to online businesses. Senator Gruters wants to level the playing field between main street local businesses and their online counterparts.

In the first pro-business bill filed for the 2020 Legislative Session, Senator Gruters is seeking to require out-of-state online businesses meeting a minimum threshold to register with the Department of Revenue, and collect and remit sales tax.  Alternatively, his bill allows for marketplace providers, like Amazon or eBay, to collect and remit the sales tax.

This is a win for small businesses, because it will eliminate the six percent disadvantage, and for consumers, it will streamline the process and remove the consumer from personally remitting the tax to revenue officials.

To be clear, this is not a tax increase. Sales tax on goods and services is already required – by both brick and mortar and online stores. The U.S. Supreme Court last year paved the way for states to begin collecting the tax from out-of-state online businesses, and since that court decision, 43 of 45 states that collect sales tax have already taken steps to level the playing field in their states.

Please join the Florida Chamber in thanking Senator Gruters for standing up for Florida businesses, protecting job creators and consumers, and taking steps to build the perfect climate for business in Florida. We look forward to supporting Senator Gruters and his bill, SB 126.

August 22, 2019