Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Sales and Use Tax
Rule No. : RULE TITLE :
12A-1.0143: Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentive Program Tax Refunds
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Rule 12A-1.0143, F.A.C. (Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentive Program Tax Refunds), is being created to provide procedures to be used in obtaining a refund of taxes paid on purchases of eligible equipment authorized by the Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentive Program administered by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. When in effect, this rule will provide how to obtain a refund of taxes paid on purchases of eligible equipment authorized under the Program and the time frame for filing an application for refund with the Department of Revenue.
SUMMARY: The proposed creation of Rule 12A-1.0143, F.A.C. (Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentive Program Tax Refunds), provides procedures to be used in obtaining a refund of taxes paid on purchases of eligible equipment from the Department of Revenue pursuant to the Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentive Program administered by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: The agency has determined that this rule will not have an adverse impact on small business. A Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost has not been prepared by the agency.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 212.17(6), 212.18(2), 213.06(1) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 213.255, 215.26, 288.1083 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: April 11, 2011, 10:30 a.m.
PLACE: 2450 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Building One, Room 2503, 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 IS: Jeff Soff, Tax Law Specialist, Technical Assistance and Dispute Resolution, Department of Revenue, P. O. Box 7443, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-7443, telephone (850)717-7347.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

12A-1.0143 Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentive Program Tax Refunds.

(1) Who May Claim the Refund? Any eligible entity that has received approval from the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for the purchase of eligible equipment for use in the Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentive Program may claim the refund. A refund will be allowed on state sales and use taxes previously paid, but not on any discretionary sales surtax paid. The refunds are limited to the time periods and amounts provided in subsection (2).

(2) Amount of the Refund. The refund amount is based on an eligible entity’s purchases of eligible equipment placed in service in Florida during the state fiscal years 2010-2011 and 2011 – 2012 (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011, and July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012) in excess of the entity’s total cost of eligible equipment purchased and placed into service in Florida by the entity in its tax year that began in 2008. The total amount of refund available to an eligible entity is limited to the amount of previously paid state sales and use tax certified by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development and will not exceed $50,000 in each of the state fiscal years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.

(3) Obtaining the Refund.

(a) Taxpayers must file an application with the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for eligibility for a tax refund under the Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentives Program. Applications may be obtained at http://www.fkgov.com/financial_incentives or by contacting the Office at (850)487-2568.

(b) When the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development sends written certification to the applicant certifying the amount of Florida sales and use tax refund, the Office will send a copy of the written certification to the Department. To obtain a refund of Florida sales and use tax previously paid on purchases of eligible equipment under the Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentive Program, a completed Application for Refund-Sales and Use Tax (Form DR-26S, incorporated by reference in Rule 12-26.008, F.A.C.), with a copy of the certification letter issued by the Office, must be filed with the Department. Form DR-26S must be filed within 30 days from the date of the written certification issued by the Office. Applications for Refund-Sales and Use Tax are available on the Department’s website at www.myflorida.com/dor/forms. Form DR-26S, with a copy of the certification letter, should be mailed to:

Florida Department of Revenue

Refund Subprocess

P. O. Box 6490

Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6490.

Rulemaking Authority 212.17(6), 212.18(2), 213.06(1) FS. Law Implemented 213.255, 215.26, 288.1083 FS. History–New________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Jeff Soff, Tax Law Specialist, Technical Assistance and Dispute Resolution, Department of Revenue, P. O. Box 7443, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-7443, telephone (850)717-7347
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Governor and Cabinet
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: February 22, 2011
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: A Notice of Proposed Rule Development was published in the Florida Administrative Weekly on September 24, 2010 (Vol. 36, No. 38, p. 4559). A rule development workshop was held on October 11, 2010. No comments were received by the Department.