TALLAHASSEE – At the urging of Tampa and a handful of other cities, a nearly forgotten provision in Florida’s tax code is being dusted off by the state Revenue Department and could lead to the nation’s first communications tax on multiuser computer networks.
Business lobbyists and others are scrambling to block the move, which some predict could trigger one of the largest tax increases in Florida history unless lawmakers eliminate the provision or halt its enforcement before adjourning April 30.
“This is a true example of the law of unintended consequences,” said state Rep. John Stargel, R-Lakeland, who has introduced a bill that would abolish the 1985 provision but has been unable to get it past its first committee stop. “This is a poster child for bad tax policy.”
Source: Tampa Tribune
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