Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Friday gave support to a pair of bills aimed at providing tax relief for small businesses

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Friday pledged support for two bills designed to provide tax relief for small businesses.

The measures, House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 1030, filed by Rep. Cyndi Stevenson and Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, respectively, allow local governments to waive the collection of business rent taxes, offering a financial respite to small enterprises in commercial buildings.

“As Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, I have made it a top priority to help small business owners, and this good piece of legislation will provide our small businesses with significant relief by giving local governments the ability to forgo collecting some of their taxes that usually come from small businesses in commercial buildings,” said Patronis. This law will provide local leaders with a tool in their toolbox to provide targeted tax relief to small businesses.”

Rodriguez’s bill specifically proposes the removal of a registration fee for certain entities producing or importing taxable pollutants, authorizes counties and school boards to exclude specific rents or license fees from discretionary sales surtaxes, and outlines sales tax exemptions for nonresident purchasers of boats and aircraft.

Her legislation also redefines how certain purchases are taxed, allows the Department of Revenue to settle certain tax liabilities, revises methods for levy notices, and adjusts compliance requirements for taxpayers.

“This legislation is a great tool for Florida small business owners,” said Rodriguez. “Florida’s localities should have the means to help lighten the burden of small business owners working to put food on the table. Thank you to CFO Patronis for his support of this legislation and for his continued commitment to Florida businesses.”

While largely similar to Rodriguez’s filing, Stevenson’s bill specifies the application of sales tax exemptions for boat and aircraft purchases by nonresidents, including conditions for tax exemption and requirements for removal of the boat or aircraft from the state.

“We are all struggling right now with record high inflation, but no one is feeling it more than our small businesses,” she said. “With this legislation, business owners will have the opportunity to receive much needed tax relief. Thank you to CFO Patronis for championing this bill, and for your leadership in putting Florida’s business owners and consumers first.”