The Online Tourist Development Tax System
Welcome to the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Tax web application!

Through this site you have the ability to create a Secure User Login, register your property (for a TDT Account), calculate returns to print, and easily manage your account(s).

Click here for instructions on how to use the online Tourist Tax website.
The Taxpayer Guide is a pdf document. Download Adobe Reader

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Tourist Development Tax Division
Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court
P.O. Box 472
Milton, FL. 32572
(850) 983-1950

 


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What are the rules for collecting and remitting the Tourist Development Tax?
Tourist Development Tax returns are due on the 1st of the month following the end of the collection period and delinquent if paid postmarked after the 20th. When the 20th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or county/state/federal holiday, the postmark deadline shall be the next business day. Pursuant to Florida Statute 212.12, managers / owners are permitted to keep a collection allowance of 2.5% of the tax collected, up to a maximum of $30.00, when paying online. If a return is delinquent, the collection allowance may not be taken and penalty and interest will be due. The penalty is 10% of the tax due, with a minimum penalty of $50.00. Interest accrues daily at a variable rate established by the Florida Department of Revenue. If noncompliance continues, collection action is taken as outlined in the Florida Statutes. Managers / owners are also required to keep all records associated with rental revenue, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, for a period of three years. These records must be made available for audit upon 60 days notice from the Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court.

Exemptions from the Tourist Development Tax
If a written lease for a term of more than six months was signed at the beginning of the rental, that tenant is exempt from paying Tourist Development Tax. Six-month leases and month-to-month rentals are subject to the tax. If a monthly tenant stays longer than six months, they become exempt beginning with the seventh month. Also, rentals made for business purposes by governments or non-profit organizations may be exempt if certain conditions are met. Examples of tax-exempt rentals and your requirements for exempting these rentals may be obtained from the Florida Department of Revenue or the Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Are there other taxes I must collect on my rentals?
Answer: Yes, in addition to the Tourist Development Tax, you must collect and remit state sales tax (currently 6%) and local sales tax (currently 1%) to the Florida Department of Revenue. The total tax to charge your guests is currently 12%. You may register online with the Florida Department of Revenue at http://www.myflorida.com/dor/eservices/apps/register/.

Question: I manage my own rental property, but I reside in another county or state and none of the money for my rentals changes hands in Santa Rosa County. Are my rentals still subject to these taxes?
Answer: Yes, they are. Taxability is based upon the location of the rental property, not the location of the financial transaction.

Question: I rent my property on the Internet. I have heard that Internet sales are not taxable.
Answer: While there may be circumstances where sales of personal property via the Internet are not subject to tax, the Florida Statutes are very clear that all rentals of accommodations located in the State of Florida are subject to applicable taxes.

Question: All of my rentals are handled by a property management company. What are my Tourist Development Tax responsibilities?
Answer: If your property management company is collecting and remitting tax for all of your property’s rentals under their Tourist Development Tax ID number, you are not required to file your own returns (although you may still need to register with the Florida Department of Revenue). However, if you personally collect rental revenue or any other form of compensation from any of your guests, you must collect and remit the taxes for those stays. Also, please be aware that, under Florida law, property owners are ultimately responsible for tourist development tax if a property manager defaults or fails to collect or remit the tax.

Question: My property is used by friends and relatives at times during the year. Am I required to collect the Tourist Development Tax from them?
Answer: If you collect rent from them, or accept any other compensation in lieu of rent, you are required to collect and remit Tourist Development Tax based upon the rent paid or upon the fair market value of the compensation received. If compensation is not received nor expected from your friends or relatives, you should be sure to document that in your records in case of audit.

Question: My guests must pay a cleaning fee in addition to their rent. Is the cleaning fee taxable?
Answer: Anything that the guest is required to pay as a condition of occupying the property is subject to the Tourist Development Tax. Common examples include (but are not limited to) cleaning fees, reservation/processing fees, amenities fees, and nonrefundable pet deposits. The primary exception is refundable damage deposits.

Question: I have rental property in other counties in Florida. How do I determine if my other rentals are subject to a Tourist Development Tax, and if so, who do I contact?
Answer: Most Florida counties do impose a Tourist Development Tax on transient rentals. Contact the County where your property is located.

Question: I have been renting for some time now, but was not aware of my responsibility to collect and remit Tourist Development Tax. I’d like to begin complying, but I am afraid that I have a large tax liability.
Answer:
Depending on the circumstances, there are several ways that a rental owner or manager making a voluntary disclosure of a tax liability can minimize their past amount due. Please be assured that we will work with you in order to bring your property into compliance.

Contact Us

Our goal is to assist rental owners and managers of properties in Santa Rosa County in fulfilling their statutory responsibilities through collector education and voluntary compliance.  For additional information, please contact:

Tourist Development Tax Office
Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court
P.O. Box 472
Milton, FL. 32572