§ 2-29-24. Local collection and administration of tax.

(a)

Pursuant to Section 125.0104(10) of the Act, the county hereby provides for the local collection and administration of the tax.

(b)

Initial collection of the tax shall be made in the same manner as the tax imposed pursuant to Section 212.03, Florida Statutes.

(c)

The tax collector shall be responsible for the collection and administration of the tax. The person receiving the consideration for any rental or lease within the scope of Section 125.0I 04(3)(a) of the Act, and acting as a "dealer" within the meaning set forth in Section 212.06(2)0), Florida Statues, or its successor provision (hereinafter referred to as a "dealer"), shall receive, account for, and remit the tax to the tax collector. The tax collector shall keep records showing the amount of taxes collected as well as appropriate books and accounts associated therewith. The same duties and privileges imposed by Chapter 212, Florida Statutes, upon dealers in tangible property, respecting the collection and remission of taxes, the making of returns, the keeping of books, records and accounts and the payment of a dealer's credit in compliance with the rules of the tax collector in the administration of Chapter 212, Florida Statutes, shall apply to and be binding upon all persons who are subject to the provisions of this article; provided, however, the tax collector may authorize a quarterly return of payment when the tax remitted for the preceding quarter by the person receiving the consideration for such rental or lease did not exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

(d)

The tax collector may promulgate rules and prescribe and publish forms necessary to implement this article. Such rules may include guidelines for registration and reporting requirements that are consistent with the provisions of Chapter 212, Florida Statutes.

(e)

In accordance with Section 125.0105, Florida Statutes, the tax collector may adopt a service fee not to exceed the service fees authorized under Section 832.08(5), Florida Statutes, or five (5) per cent of the face amount of the check, draft, or order, whichever is greater, for the collection of a dishonored check, draft, or other order for the payment of tax under this chapter. The service fee shall be in addition to all other penalties imposed by law. Proceeds from this fee, if imposed, shall be retained by the tax collector.

(f)

The tax collector shall perform the enforcement and audit functions associated with the collection and remission of this tax, including, without limitation, the following:

(1)

In addition to applicable statutory criminal sanctions, the tax collector is empowered, and is obligated, when any tax becomes delinquent or is otherwise in jeopardy under this section, to issue a warrant for the full amount of the tax due or estimated to be due, with the interest, penalties, and cost of collection. directed to all and singular the sheriffs of the state. Upon issuance, the tax collector shall record the warrant in the public records of the county, and thereupon the amount of the warrant shall become a lien on any real or personal property of the taxpayer in the same manner as a recorded judgment. The tax collector may obtain a tax execution to enforce the collection of taxes imposed by this section and deliver it to the sheriff. The sheriff shall thereupon proceed in the same manner as prescribed by law for executions and shall be entitled to the same fees for his services in executing the warrant to be collected. The tax collector may also obtain a writ of garnishment to subject any indebtedness due to the delinquent dealer by a third person in any goods, money, chattels, or effects of the delinquent dealer in the hands, possession, or control of the third person in the manner provided by law for the payment of the tax due. Upon payment of the execution, warrant, judgment, or garnishment, the department shall satisfy the lien of record within thirty (30) days.

(2)

For enforcement purposes, examining at any reasonable hour the books, records, and other documents of any dealer, or other person charged with the duty to report or pay the tax, in order to determine whether or not that person is collecting the tax or otherwise complying with this article. In the event a person refuses to permit such examination of such books, records, or other documents by the tax collector, that person is subject to the criminal penalties of Section 125.0104(8) of the Act. The tax collector shall have the right to seek a mandatory injunction or other appropriate remedy in circuit court to enforce his right to require an examination of the books and records of that person.

(3)

For enforcement purposes, the tax collector shall require a dealer to report individually on any properties such dealer owns and/or represents. This requirement shall apply equally to individual property owners, realtors, property managers and other persons who hold themselves to represent multiple properties for benefit.

(4)

Each dealer shall keep for three (3) years a complete record of rooms or other lodging, leased or rented by said dealer, together with gross receipts from such sales, and other pertinent records and papers as may be required by the tax collector for the reasonable administration of this article. All such records located or maintained in this state shall be open for inspection by the tax collector at any reasonable hour at the dealer's place of business in the county. Any dealer who maintains such books and records at a point outside the county must make such books and records available for inspection by the tax collector in the county. Violators of this article are subject to the criminal penalties of Section 125.0104(8) of the Act.

(5)

Enforcement investigations shall include the examination of documents that are relevant to transient renters and rental activities, from any of the following, including but not limited to:

a.

Any person;

b.

Any community;

c.

Any condominium association;

d.

Any homeowners association; and

e.

Any property management company.

Relevant documents include, but are not limited to:

a.

Association approval of guests to rent or lease;

b.

Guest gate entry passes;

c.

Guest golf and/or tennis membership records; and

d.

Other guest amenity records such as pool and community center passes.

(6)

The tax collector may conduct audits of the records of dealers as follows:

a.

At least thirty (30) days prior to the date an audit is scheduled to begin, the tax collector shall send written notice informing the taxpayer of the audit. The tax collector is not required to give thirty (30) day's prior notice of an audit in any instance in which the taxpayer requests an emergency audit.

b.

Such written notification shall contain:

1.

The approximate date on which the audit is scheduled to begin.

2.

A statement that all of the records, receipts, invoices and related documentation of the taxpayer must be made available to the auditor.

3.

Any other requests or suggestions the tax collector deems necessary.

c.

Only records, receipts, invoices, and related documentation available when an audit begins shall be deemed acceptable for the purposes of conducting such audit.

(7)

All taxes collected under this article shall be remitted to the tax collector. In addition to the statutory criminal sanctions, the tax collector is empowered, and is obligated, when any tax becomes delinquent or is otherwise in jeopardy under this article, to issue a warrant for the full amount of the tax due or estimated to be due, with the interest, penalties, and cost of collection, directed to all and singular the sheriffs of the state, and shall record the warrant which shall become a lien on any real or personal property of the tax payer in the same manner as a recorded judgment. The tax collector may obtain a tax execution to enforce the collection of taxes imposed by this article and deliver it to the sheriff. The sheriff shall thereupon proceed in the same manner as prescribed by law for executions and shall be entitled to the same fees for his services in executing the warrant to be collected. The tax collector may also obtain a writ of garnishment to subject any indebtedness due to the delinquent dealer by a third person in any goods, money, chattels or effects of the delinquent dealer in the hands, possession, or control of the third person in the manner provided by law for the payment of the tax due. Upon payment of the execution, warrant, judgment or garnishment, the tax collector shall satisfy the lien of record within thirty (30) days.

(8)

Pursuant to Section 213.24{3), Florida Statute, a fee shall be imposed to offset costs incurred by the tax collector for enforcement, administration and payment agreements incurred due to late payment resulting from a collection event. For purposes of this section, "collection event" shall mean when a taxpayer fails to:

a.

Timely file a complete return;

b.

Timely pay the full amount of tax reported on a return; or

c.

Timely pay the full amount due resulting from an audit after all appeal rights have expired or the result has been finally determined.

The fee shall be equal to ten (10) per cent of the total amount of tax, penalty, and interest which remains unpaid after ninety (90) days or attorney fees and court costs: whichever is greater. The fee shall be imposed in addition to the taxes, fees, and penalties prescribed by law. The tax collector shall review each assessment of said fee on a case by case situation.

(g)

Three (3) per cent of the tax collected herein shall be retained by the tax collector for costs of administration. The remainder shall be submitted on the fifteenth day and the last day of each calendar month to the county.

(h)

The tax collector's books and records relating to collections under this article shall be available for inspection by the county and the county's chief financial officer at reasonable times.

(i)

To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who violates this section shall, in addition to being subject to the penalties and liabilities provided in Section 125.0104(8) and/or Section 212.06. Florida Statutes, be guilty of a violation of this Code.

(Ord. No. 11-050, § 3, 11-21-11; Ord. No. 14-57, Exh. A, 12-2-14)