Legislation aimed at forcing online retailers
to start collecting sales taxes is making headway in the Florida Legislature.
Its latest test came Thursday, when the
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax advanced the bill on a
10-1 vote. The proposal (SB 316) aims to force online retailers such as Amazon.com to collect the state's 6 percent sales tax. The sales tax extension would apply if the retailer has a warehouse in the Sunshine State. It also would apply if the retailer employs workers in the state whose referrals generate at least $10,000 in gross sales.
The Florida House is considering similar legislation, and supporters are hoping for a breakthrough in 2013 after being stymied for years.
