Florida landlords are often alarmed to learn their interest in their properties can be encumbered by liens arising from a tenant’s construction activities, even if the landlord was not involved in, or aware of, the work. Upon a sale of the property, the risk of tenant-initiated construction liens can become…
Commercial Lease Sales Tax Update: Major Reduction for 2024 Ahead of Schedule
As discussed in our Real Estate Blog, the state-level sales tax rate on commercial lease payments will be reduced from 4.5% to 2.0% three months after Florida’s Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund (UCTF) is replenished to pre-pandemic levels. According to the recent forecast from the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic…
SALES TAX ON COMMERCIAL LEASES TO BE REDUCED ON DECEMBER 1, 2023 (AND POTENTIALLY AGAIN IN 2024)
As a reminder, sales tax due on commercial lease payments will soon be reduced. Effective December 1, 2023, Florida’s state sales tax rate on commercial lease payments (including base rent and additional rent) will decrease from 5.5% to 4.5%. The reductions are a result of House Bill 7063, which was…
The Importance of Knowing Your Buyer
On May 8, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Florida Senate Bill 264, which prohibits the acquisition of certain types of Florida real estate by persons from so-called “Foreign Countries of Concern” (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria). The types of restricted property include agricultural land,…
Permit Fee Relief in the Wake of Ian
Residential and commercial property building permit fees relating to storm damage repairs will be waived by the City of Sarasota through January 1, 2023. This is aimed at helping City of Sarasota residents’ recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. You will receive a refund if you filed a…