Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Question about Sumter County Tourism Tax
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Old 10-10-2020, 08:11 PM
Northwoods Northwoods is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toymeister View Post
Details matter.

Occupancy tax is collected for rentals 180 days or less. The landlord pays it, although it may be rolled up in the rent. It is a state requirement, the county cannot repeal this tax. The state will collect a tourism tax on behalf of the county. In Sumter county it is one percent. County officials can repeal or change this tax but not the state's tax.

Even if the tourism tax is repealed occupancy tax will be paid. It is 8% in Sumter County. References to sales tax or occupancy tax in this thread are 100% incorrect. The link referred to by the poster above is dangerously inaccurate.

The form you file with the state specifically includes a line for the tourism tax. It IS NOT 12% as that article states.
I might have said "occupancy" in my post but it is a County Tourist Development Tax. I believe it is a tax paid by hotels (not rentals). A portion of that tax is used to fund entertainment at Sumter and Brownwood squares.

My question is - why would "we" want to repeal that tax?? It's paid by hotels and goes for entertainment. If it's repealed the money has to come from somewhere else. Or reduce/eliminate entertainment.