RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
12B-5.030: Importers
12B-5.040: Carriers
12B-5.050: Terminal Suppliers
12B-5.060: Wholesalers
12B-5.070: Terminal Operators
12B-5.080: Exporters
12B-5.090: Local Government Users
12B-5.100: Mass Transit Systems
12B-5.110: Blenders
12B-5.121: Temporary Licenses Issued Under a Declared Emergency
12B-5.130: Refunds
12B-5.150: Public Use Forms
12B-5.200: Wholesalers of Alternative Fuel
12B-5.400: Producers and Importers of Pollutants
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Section 206.02(2)(c), F.S., requires terminal suppliers, importers, exporters, blenders, biodiesel manufacturers, and wholesalers to pay a $30 license tax to obtain an annual fuel license or to renew an annual fuel license. Similar provisions are provided for carriers and terminal operators to obtain an annual fuel license in Sections 206.021(3), 206.022(2), and 206.89(4), F.S., provides that a $5 filing fee is required to obtain a license as a retailer of alternative fuel.
Sections 206.05(1), 206.051, and 206.89(2), F.S., provide that terminal suppliers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, and retailers of alternative fuel are required to post a bond to obtain a Florida fuel license. Section 206.9931(1), F.S., provides bond requirements for applicants applying for a license as an importer or producer of pollutants.
To obtain a Florida fuel license, the licensee is required to maintain a bond sufficient to ensure payment to the state of the amount of the tax, plus any penalties and interest for which the person may become liable. A wholesaler who has no import or export activity that sells only undyed diesel fuel and that is not authorized by the Department to remit fuel tax to its supplier would have no liability to the state and would not be required to post a bond. Any applicant for a pollutants tax license for the sole purpose of applying for refunds of tax-paid pollutants would not be required to post a bond.
The purpose of the proposed amendments to Rule Chapter 12B-5, F.A.C., Tax on Motor Fuels, Diesel Fuels, Alternative Fuels, Aviation Fuels, and Pollutants), is to: (1) correct the use of the term “license fee” to “license tax” and to correct the use of the term “registration fee” to “filing fee,” consistent with Sections 206.02(2)(c), 206.021(3), 206.022(2), and 206.89(4), F.S., as requested by the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee; (2) update provisions regarding bonding requirements consistent with Sections 206.05(1), 206.051, 206.89(2), and 206.9931(1), F.S.; and (3) adopt, by reference, changes to the fuel and pollutant returns to include the annual updates to the state fuel sales tax rate and the local option tax rates effective January 2012.
Section 206.8745(1), F.S., provides that any purchaser who purchases tax-paid diesel fuel and has paid the fuel taxes to the seller may claim a refund of the fuel taxes paid as provided in Section 215.26, F.S., if the fuel is used for an exempt purpose as provided in Section 206.874(3), F.S. The purpose of the proposed amendments to Rule 12B-5.130, F.A.C. (Refunds), is to: (1) remove provisions regarding the availability of a refund of tax paid on diesel fuel used in the operations of boats, vessels, or equipment for fishing that are not consistent with the provisions of Section 206.8745(1), F.S.; (2) provide the procedures on how to obtain a refund of the fuel taxes paid on diesel fuel used for commercial fishing purposes or by a vessel engaged in the commercial transportation of persons or property consistent with the provisions of Section 206.8745(1), F.S.; and (3) clarify that diesel fuel used for such commercial purposes is subject to sales tax, plus any applicable discretionary sales surtax.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: The subject area of the workshop is the proposed changes to Rule Chapter 12B-5, F.A.C., to use the statutory terms “license tax” and “filing fee” for purposes of obtaining an annual Florida fuel tax license, to update provisions regarding bonding requirements, to adopt updates to the fuel and pollutant returns to include state sales tax rate and the local tax rates effective January 2012, and the procedures to claim a refund of tax paid on diesel fuel used in a commercial fishing vessel.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 206.14(1), 206.485(1), 206.59(1), 213.06(1), 213.755(8), 526.206 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 119.071(5), 206.02, 206.021, 206.022, 206.025, 206.026, 206.027, 206.028, 206.05, 206.055, 206.095, 206.11, 206.404, 206.41, 206.43, 206.44, 206.485, 206.64, 206.86, 206.874, 206.8745, 206.877, 206.90, 206.91, 206.92, 206.97, 206.9835, 206.9865, 206.9931, 206.9943, 212.0501, 213.255, 213.755, 526.203 FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: August 16, 2011, 1:30 p.m.
PLACE: 2450 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Building One, Room 1220, Tallahassee, Florida
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Tammy Miller at (850)617-8346. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Ronald Gay, Tax Law Specialist, Technical Assistance and Dispute Resolution, Department of Revenue, P. O. Box 7443, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-7443, telephone (850)717-6745.

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:

PUBLISHED ON THE DEPARTMENT’S INTERNET SITE AT: myflorida.com/dor/rules.