Uh-Oh Busted! Florida Department of Revenue is after me! (purchases, college)

[JOSU]

Florida may have Multi-State sales and use tax auditors. These auditors conduct audits on "out of state" businesses that may have some type of nexus in Florida. When they audit these companies, they look for any and all sales shipped into Florida. This could be one way they received your information.

[Iamrita]

Originally Posted by JOSU

Florida may have Multi-State sales and use tax auditors. These auditors conduct audits on "out of state" businesses that may have some type of nexus in Florida. When they audit these companies, they look for any and all sales shipped into Florida. This could be one way they received your information.

Interesting point. I'd like to know if Florida employs such specialized auditors. In the meantime, I cried "Uncle" and wrote the check!

[justNancy]

This is interesting. I haven't purchased big ticket items online. My laptop was purchased online, but Best Buy has stores in Florida, so I was taxed 7% which is the sales tax in Charlotte County. I also order stuff from Vitacost, and the beauty items like moisturizers and toner are always taxed. The vitamins, tea, honey and other items that aren't taxed in the supermarkets aren't taxed online. I never realized someone was actually monitoring online purchases.

I used to hate people like you when I sold furniture, but I really don't blame you.

Hope this isn't too off-topic, but my water was shut off today. It was turned back on at about 6:00. I was screaming at the owner (I have a bad temper when I can't flush) and then apologized, since I learned there's been a postal strike in Canada for months. He insists he mailed the payment to Charlotte County Utilities, but they're obviously becoming very aggressive and shutting off the water after 10 days. I called and was told by a customer service rep that there was a past due amount of $54. They turned off the water for $54?? He's owned this place since 1994. He had to pay a $55 reconnect charge and another $22 because service was performed after 3:30. I said I didn't care if it was extra. I needed to shower. I stink. I wonder if the current economic conditions has prompted companies to take action sooner than usual.

[Sgt. Buzzcut]

Originally Posted by Iamrita

Interesting point. I'd like to know if Florida employs such specialized auditors. In the meantime, I cried "Uncle" and wrote the check!

You can bet they do and probably what they are most concerned with is people buying tobacco online from another state. Nevermind sales tax with each state having there own cigarette tax which widely varies the high priced cig tax states are watching to see who's buying from cheap tax states. They let this go on for months or even years and the purchaser get's a letter similar to yours demanding $1000's.

[Three Wolves In Snow]

Originally Posted by Iamrita

Interesting point. I'd like to know if Florida employs such specialized auditors. In the meantime, I cried "Uncle" and wrote the check!

Bah! They don't even know how much you paid! If that had been me, I would have held out. I would have told them to pound sand, "You want the money, you do the work and find out what I paid."

And still I would have probably held out. If you're going to come after me, you better go after every single person in the entire state at the same time. Otherwise, suck a rotten one.

[justNancy]

Imagine the number of investors who rent houses and apartments they own in Florida, but don't pay income tax or other fees. There's a sales tax in every FL county for rentals without a minimum 6 month lease (like a hotel room tax) but many people who own property have a "cash only" policy and don't report the rental income when they file. Many people rent out houses during season and never report the income.

When I lived in MA many years ago, residents would drive to NH to save money since NH doesn't have a sales tax. In the late 1960s the Commonwealth of Massachusetts tried to crack down on consumers who crossed the border to avoid the tax and began imposing new laws. The sales tax for a vehicle was paid at the DMV during registration so you couldn't buy a car in NH and register it in MA without paying the 5% sales tax.

[Avalon08]

Iamrita, I would have done the same thing (written the check). Regardless of whether you're the only one caught with the "joint" (yes, that would've been the Woodstock term, LOL), it's probably better not to mess with it.

[Iamrita]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

Iamrita, I would have done the same thing (written the check). Regardless of whether you're the only one caught with the "joint" (yes, that would've been the Woodstock term, LOL), it's probably better not to mess with it.

Hey, I knew the Woodstock term. I was just trying to update my nomenclature! lol...

[justNancy]

I had to Google "blunt." Guess I'm really old and uncool. However, I really was at Woodstock!

[Iamrita]

Originally Posted by Three Wolves In Snow

Bah! They don't even know how much you paid! If that had been me, I would have held out. I would have told them to pound sand, "You want the money, you do the work and find out what I paid."

And still I would have probably held out. If you're going to come after me, you better go after every single person in the entire state at the same time. Otherwise, suck a rotten one.

Awww, Three Wolves, I'm with you! I had another factor to deal with (husband). Marriage is compromise. What can I say?