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Florida Sales Tax Guide for Small Businesses

Everything you need to know about sales tax in Florida — rates, deadlines, exemptions, and how to stay compliant without the headache.

Last updated March 2026

Quick Facts

State Rate

6.00%

Avg. Combined

7.05%

Filing Frequency

Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annual, or Annual

Vendor Discount

Yes

Home Rule

No

Florida Sales Tax Rates

Florida's state sales tax rate is 6.00%. Cities and counties can add local taxes on top. The average combined rate across Florida is 7.05%.

The highest combined rate in the state can reach up to 8.50% in some jurisdictions.

Filing Deadlines & Frequency

Filing Frequency

Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annual, or Annual — assigned by FL DOR based on tax liability

Due Dates

1st through the 20th of the month after the reporting period

File Online

Florida Department of Revenue — e-Services: https://floridarevenue.com/

What's Taxable for Restaurants & Food Businesses

Prepared Food

Yes — prepared food and restaurant meals are taxable at the full 7.05% combined rate.

Grocery Food

Exempt from sales tax. Grocery food is exempt. Prepared food, hot food, and food sold with eating utensils are taxable.

Alcohol

Subject to sales tax plus separate excise taxes (surcharge on liquor by the drink)

Vendor Discount

Florida offers a vendor discount

2.5% of the first $1,200 of tax due if filed and paid on time (max $30 per reporting period)

This is money back in your pocket for filing on time. TaxAside files on time, every time — so you capture this discount automatically.

Penalties for Late Filing

Late Filing Penalty

10% of tax due (minimum $50)

Interest

Floating rate updated January 1 and July 1, based on the federal short-term rate

Miss a deadline and Floridastarts charging penalties and interest immediately. That adds up fast on a busy restaurant's tax bill.

TaxAside's On-Time Guarantee covers up to $5,000 in penalties if we ever file late.

Calculate Your Florida Sales Tax

Florida Sales Tax Calculator
$
State tax (6.00%)$0.00
Est. local tax (1.05%)$0.00
Total tax (7.05%)$0.00
Total with tax$0.00

This calculator uses average combined rates. Your actual rate depends on your exact location.

Get your exact rate →

How TaxAside Helps in Florida

  • We file on time so you capture Florida's vendor discount automatically.
  • Daily set-asides mean no tax-day surprises. We pull, calculate, set aside, and file — you do nothing.
  • On-Time Guarantee covers up to $5,000 in penalties if we're ever late filing your Florida return.
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Related State Guides

Georgia

7.53% avg. combined

Alabama

9.24% avg. combined

Tired of worrying about Florida sales tax?

Let TaxAside handle it. We connect to your POS, set aside the right amount every day, and file your return on time — guaranteed.

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5-minute setup. No credit card required.