Good news, Floridians: not only do you get to enjoy Florida’s laid back lifestyle and beautiful climate, but you also get the luxury of a 0% state income tax rate. That’s right, the state of Florida does not impose income taxes.

Although you won’t need to pay state income taxes as a taxpayer in Florida, you are still subject to federal income tax. But who has time to agonize over tax rates when you have white sand beaches and world renowned amusement parks to enjoy? Find out your federal tax liability ASAP using our federal income tax calculator.

There’s a lot to learn about Florida state tax laws - but before we do, we need to establish some foundational tax knowledge first. When we’re talking about Florida state taxes, it’s important to note that we’re talking about taxes that are imposed by the state government, not the federal government.

What this means to you as an American taxpayer: depending on which of the 50 states you live in, you may have a different tax liability than your neighboring state. In Florida, for example, the state sales tax rate is 6% while Georgia’s state sales tax rate ranges from 4-9%.

The reason state taxes can vary so much from state to state is because they are mandated by the state government, not the federal government. Federal taxes on the other hand, are regulated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), so no matter what state you live in, you can expect to pay the same rate of federal taxes as other taxpayers within your tax bracket.

Florida is known for its world class beaches, eccentric wildlife, and gorgeous climate—but in addition to tourism, Florida is among the most popular places to retire in the U.S.. One of the biggest advantages to retiring to Florida is the easygoing state tax code.

Floridians enjoy some of the least restrictive tax laws in the country including a 0% income tax rate and no inheritance or estate taxes. But before you pack up and start your move to the Sunshine State, you should take a look at Florida’s tax liabilities as a whole. Use this overview of Florida state taxes as your guide to file and plan for your annual tax return.

Since the state of Florida does not impose income taxes, they do not have a tax bracket system like many other states do.

In states with income taxes, a tax bracketing system serves as a tool to help the state decide how much income tax to charge their taxpayers. California for example, has a total of 9 income tax brackets that correlate with different tax rates ranging from 1-12.3%.

Self-employed income in Florida is treated the same as all other income in the state, and is therefore not subject to state income tax.

However, self-employed taxpayers are required to pay self-employment (SE) taxes. SE taxes are mandated at the federal level and are charged at a rate of 15.3%, which includes your Social Security and Medicare tax contributions.

Florida does not impose an individual income tax. This distinction is one of the many reasons Florida consistently ranks as one of the top places to retire. That is, in addition to the climate, idyllic beaches, and top-notch recreation, of course.

There are only a handful of states in the U.S. who, like Florida, do not have income tax, including: Alaska, Nevada, and New Hampshire.

Although Florida does not mandate income taxes on the state level, taxpayers in Florida are still subject to pay federal income taxes. Federal income tax rates vary depending on a number of reasons such as filing status and tax bracket.

Florida does not impose a capital gains tax. According to the Florida State Department of Revenue, this is due to the fact that the state does not have income taxes.

What are capital gains taxes? Capital gains tax is similar to personal income tax, though it only refers to profit earned from the sale of a capital asset such as a business venture, investment in the stock market, or profit from a collectible item. Capital gains can be taxed by both the federal and state governments.

The general state sales tax rate for Florida is 6% with the following exceptions:

• Electricity is taxed at 6.95%
• The lease or license of commercial property is taxed at 5.7%
• Amusement machine receipts are taxed at 4%

On top of the state sales tax rate, counties in Florida also have the jurisdiction to impose local sales taxes on products sold in their county.

What are excise taxes?

Excise taxes are similar to sales taxes in that they’re imposed on certain consumer products and services. However, excise taxes are considered an “indirect tax” because they are charged to the producer or vendor of the product rather than the consumer.

What this means for you as the consumer, is not that you’ll be absolved of your excise tax duties, but rather that you will see the cost incurred in a different way. Instead of seeing the sales tax cost on your receipt like you would for sales taxes, excise taxes are typically built into the price of the product so that the manufacturer and/or merchant can account for the costs when they file their business taxes.

Excise taxes can be imposed on a variety of goods and services such as telecommunications, tourism, and gasoline. In addition to these products, excise taxes are commonly imposed on activities that the government may consider to be harmful to the consumer’s health or the community as a whole. These are called “sin taxes.”

Sin taxes vary from state to state, but a few common examples include: tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and gambling taxes.

Like many states, Florida taxes alcoholic beverages in a tiered system. Depending on the alcohol content and the style of the beverage, some libations might be taxed at a higher rate than others.

Here are the excise taxes on all alcoholic beverages brought into the Sunshine State:

• Beer: $0.48 per gallon
• Wine (<17.26% alcohol): $2.25 per gallon
• Wine (+17.26% alcohol): $3.00 per gallon
• Natural Sparkling: $3.50 per gallon
• Cider (0.5 - 7% alcohol): $0.89 per gallon
• Liquor (<17.26% alcohol): $2.25 per gallon
• Liquor (17.26-55.78% alcohol): $6.50 per gallon
• Liquor (+55.78% alcohol): $9.53 per gallon

So we know Florida ranks among the best when it comes to state income taxes, but how does the state stack up to others when it comes to excise taxes on alcohol?

• Florida has the 10th highest beer tax
• Florida has the 3rd highest wine tax
• Florida has the 20th highest liquor tax

Florida taxes cigarettes $1.34 per 20-pack, ranking 30th in the country for highest taxes on cigarettes.

The state of Florida taxes motor fuel at 18.1 cents per gallon. Florida has some of the lowest excise taxes on gas in the country, consistent with the rest of their lax attitude when it comes to tax regulations.

So where does the state of Florida collect all of the funds they need for state-funded programs like education and public works maintenance? According to Pew Research, here’s how Florida breaks down their tax revenue:

• 63% comes from general sales tax
• 19% comes from selective sales tax
• Corporate income, severance, licenses, and other taxes account for the remaining 17.81%

Florida has the 4th highest tax on cell phone plans in the United States at an average rate of 16.55% on cell phone and cable TV service. Florida has long been challenged by lobbyists and residents who say the cell phone tax has a disproportionately negative impact on low-income families.

The Florida insurance tax rate is 1.75% on gross premiums minus reinsurance and return premiums, 1% on annuity premiums, 1.6% on self insurers, and 5% on surplus lines premiums and independently produced coverage.

These taxes must be paid by any insurance company offering coverage within the state of Florida, but Floridians should keep in mind that many insurers will build these expenses into the cost of their insurance bill.

The state of Florida does not collect property taxes, but they are collected on a local level from county governments.

Florida seems to sound better and better as we learn more about their state tax code, but don’t forget about your local property tax liability before buying real estate in the Sunshine State. The average property tax collected in Florida is $1,773 per year for a home that’s worth the median value of $182,400.

Since Florida’s property taxes are controlled by local governments, they vary from county to county. To give you a little more context, let’s look at the highest and lowest property tax rates in the state. Miami-Dade County collects the highest property taxes in the state with an average of $2,756 per year while Dixie County has the lowest property taxes at an average of $503 collected per year.

When compared to other states in the U.S., Florida’s property tax averages are more conservative than many others. Illinois for example, levies some of the highest property taxes in the country with an average of $3,995 collected by homeowners each year. But who needs deep dish pizza when you could have world-class seafood and Cuban fare in the Panhandle?

The state of Florida does not impose inheritance or estate taxes, which is one of the many benefits of retiring in the Sunshine State.

Inheritance and estate taxes are placed on monetary and physical properties that have been inherited. This means that if you retire in a state that has an inheritance tax, once you pass away and your loved ones inherit your property, the items will be taxed at the state’s inheritance and estate tax rate.

But if you choose to retire in Florida, you’ll be glad to know your property will be considered tax-free (as far as inheritance and estate taxes go) when it’s passed onto your loved ones.

Since Florida does not levy any income taxes, the state does not offer any credits for taxpayers to save on their tax bill.

A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the taxpayer’s overall tax liability. Tax credits are generally used to encourage taxpayers to participate in state-driven initiatives. In Colorado, taxpayers can claim a tax credit for using alternative fuels instead of gasoline. And in Massachusetts, taxpayers can claim credit for making renewable energy upgrades to their home.

Florida does not offer any state tax deductions because they do not levy any income taxes.

A tax deduction is similar to a tax credit in that they both work to reduce the taxpayer’s total tax bill. But unlike a tax credit, a tax deduction lowers the individual’s taxable income, which could translate to lower taxes in states that tax income.

Although Floridians don’t have to pay state or city income taxes, their income is still subject to federal income taxes. Thankfully, the federal government does offer a few tax deductions and credits that qualifying taxpayers can claim to save even further on their annual tax return.

When claiming federal tax deductions, taxpayers can either claim the standard deduction or choose to itemize their deductions if they have multiple to claim.

Florida does not generally circulate tax refunds because they don’t collect income taxes. However, there are certain circumstances in which businesses and individuals may request a refund for sales taxes paid or to check on the status of their account with the Florida Department of Revenue.

The state of Florida does not levy any income or property taxes, so you will not need to worry about remitting taxes to the state government. However, certain counties may collect property taxes, so taxpayers should check with their local government to learn how they can pay any local taxes they might owe.

Keep in mind, not all Floridians are absolved of state tax duties. If you’re a small business owner, for example, you may have to pay various business taxes in order to remain in compliance with the Florida Department of Revenue.

• Every state has their own “quirks” when it comes to tax code, but Florida’s “rent-a-cow” tax break could be the most bizarre of all. In an effort to preserve agricultural land, the state enacted the tax loophole (known as the greenbelt statute) back in 1959. In essence, the greenbelt statute works like this: rent cattle on your property and get a tax break on your property taxes.
• In 2019, the state of Florida passed the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday which states that certain back-to-school items will be tax exempt during the sales tax holiday period.
• If you want to show off your patriotism and state pride in Florida, you’ll be glad to know that both U.S. and state flags are tax exempt in the Sunshine State.

Although you may catch a pretty nice break when it comes to calculating your Florida state tax dues, don’t forget about your federal tax liabilities!

Federal tax code is mandated across all 50 states, so you’ll be subject to the same federal taxes in Florida as your neighbors in Alabama or Louisiana. Federal taxes are often more straightforward than state taxes because they apply to all taxpayers in the U.S., but there are some things that may impact your federal tax responsibilities such as your income, household dynamics, and qualifying tax deductions. These factors may translate to a higher tax bill, so it’s important to strategize your tax savings and file your taxes in accordance with IRS standards.

To estimate your federal taxes and make the most out of your tax savings, head over to our federal income tax calculator, or speak with one of our tax professionals to get personalized tax help today.

This information is current as of 2019. Taxpayers should consider special circumstances which could impact their individual state tax return.

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