Calling all FL detailers who collect sales tax

M

mini1

New member
This question got me thinking as it state sales remittance tax time for most of us. Lawful deductions or annual resale certificate use....what exactly do you consider a lawful tax deduction against the sales tax collected or use of your certificate, and what do you not? Some people I talk to think I should be deducting and/or using my annual resale certificate on all chemicals I purchase, others think I should be only deducting things like waxes and tire gloss? The FL DOR isn't clear cut on what I should be taking or not taking and the laws are written poorly when it comes to auto detailing and sales tax. I've only been taking waxes and tire gloss to be on the safe side, but I may be leaving money on the table.

Tell me what you think or link me to some clearly written laws that list everything.
 
Makes me wonder?? From the Florida Department of Revenue website: FL Dept Rev - Florida Sales and Use Tax



List of Business Activities that are Taxable

*Sales of taxable items at retail.

*Repairs or alterations of tangible personal property.

*Rentals, leases, or licenses to use real property (for example, commercial office space, mini-warehouses, or short-term living accommodations).

*Rentals of short term living accommodations (for example motel/hotel rooms, beach houses, condominiums, vacation houses, travel parks, etc).

*Rental or lease of personal property (for example, vehicles, machinery, equipment, or other goods).

*Charges for admission to any place of amusement, sport, or recreation.

*Operating private membership clubs that provide recreational or physical fitness facilities.

*Manufacturing or producing goods for sale at retail.

*Importing goods from any state or foreign country, for sale at retail or for use in the business or for pleasure.

*Selling service warranty contracts.

*Ordering and using, on a regular basis, mail-order products on which no sales tax was charged.

*Operating vending or amusement machines.

*Providing taxable services (for example, investigative and crime protection services, interior nonresidential cleaning services, and nonresidential pest control services).
Click to expand...
 
VanityDetailing said:
According to my accountant, the only stuff you have to tax, is wax and dressings.



The Sales Tax Guy: Is that car wash taxable?



Hope it helps.
Click to expand...



The quote in this article is exactly how I operate, so I guess I'm following the law. If I apply any waxes or dressing, I tax the entire amount to the customer. I only use my resale certificate/deduction for waxes and dressings. The funny thing is that the DOR doesn't specify what it considers "and the like". Does something like a metal cleaner which also has a polish mixed in, qualify for an exemption? How about instant detailer? How about Rain-x? I could go on and on. Their laws are stupid and my customers complain about the tax all the time. There are so many illegal detail operations running that they are not used to the tax and think I'm just trying to build-in a tip.

What makes no sense is that people who clean your house and apply a 'protective' coating to your floor or your stainless steel appliances, do NOT have to charge tax on the entire amount of the service. But if they clean a business, they do? What??
 
Have you noticed how lawyers don't have to collect sales tax on their services? I guess when that's who gets elected and who writes the laws, they get to make the rules.
 
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