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  ENTERPRISE ZONE JOBS TAX CREDIT (Sales & Use Tax)
Section 212.096, Florida Statutes
 SALES TAX REFUND FOR BUSINESS MACHINERY
AND EQUIPMENT USED IN AN ENTERPRISE ZONE
Section 212.08(5)(h), Florida Statues


 SALES TAX REFUND FOR BUILDING MATERIALS
USED IN AN ENTERPRISE ZONE
Section 212.08 (5) (g), Florida Statutes
 SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR ELECTRICAL
ENERGY USED IN AN ENTERPRISE ZONE
Section 212.08 (15), Florida Statues
What is the program? Allows businesses located in a Florida enterprise zone, who collect or pay Florida sales and use tax, a monthly credIT against their tax due to wages paid to new employees (in a new full-time job) who have been employed by the businesses for at least 3 months and are residents of a Florida enterprise zone (or are Welfare Transition Program participants).

 A refund is available for sales taxes paid on the purchase of certain business property, (e.g. tangible personal property such as office equipment, warehouse equipment, and some industrial machinery and equipment), which is used exclusively in an enterprise zone for at least three years. A refund is available for sales taxes paid on the purchase of building materials used to rehabilitate real property located in an enterprise zone.

 A 50% sales tax exemption is available to qualified businesses located in an enterprise zone on the purchase of electrical energy. If 20% or more of the permanent, full-time employees are residents of a Florida enterprise zone, the exemption is only available if the municipality in which the business is located has passed an ordinance to exempt enterprise zone businesses from %50 of the municipal utility tax.
What are the advantages? This incentive provides a credIT of 20% of wages paid to new eligible employees who are residents of a Florida enterprise zone. If 20% or more of the permanent, full-time employees are residents of a Florida enterprise zone, the credIT is 30%.

This incentive reduces the cost of purchasing new and used qualified tangible personal property that is used in a enterprise zone.

Starting July 1, 2001, business equipment must have a sales price of a least $5,000 per unIT . 		This incentive reduces the cost of rehabilitating real property that is located in an enterprise zone.

The 50% or $100 exemption of state sales tax on utilities and the 50% abatement of municipal utility tax are available for up to five years.

*Note: This incentive will not be available in the City of Sarasota until the ordinance is adopted.
What are the limitations? The credIT is limited to the amount of tax due on each return. There is no refund or carry-forward for credIT in excess of the tax due.

This credIT is not available if the Enterprise Zone Jobs Tax CredIT , (corporate tax), is taken.

The credIT is limited to 24 months if the employee remains employed for 24 months.

 The maximum refund per application will be no more than $5,000 or 97% of the tax paid. If 20% or more of the permanent, full-time employees of the business are residents of a Florida enterprise zone, the refund will be no more than the lesser of $10,000 or 97% of the tax paid. The total amount of the sales tax refund must be at least $500, but no more than the lesser of $5,000 or 97% of the tax paid per parcel of property. If 20% or more of the permanent, full-time employees or the business are residents of a Florida enterprise zone the refund will be no more than the lesser of $10,000 or 97% of the tax paid per parcel. The tax exemption is limited to municipalities that have passed an ordinance to reduce the municipal utility tax for enterprise zone businesses. If 20% or more of the businesses employees are residents of an enterprise zone, the business will receive a larger abatement.
How do I receive the credIT ? Form DR-15JZ must be submitted to an Enterprise Zone Coordinator within 4 months after the new employee is hired.

Within 10 working days of receiving a completed tax credIT application, DOR will notify the business that the application has been approved.

 Form DR-2S and for EZ-E must be certified by an Enterprise Zone Coordinator for the enterprise zone in which the business is located, and must be filed with the Department of Revenue within 6 months or when the business equipment is purchased or the tax due.

 Form DR-26S and Form EZ-M certified by an Enterprise Zone Coordinator must be filed with the Department of Revenue within 6 months of when the improvements are certified as being substantially complete or within 90 days after the property is first subject to assessment.
 Form DR-15JEZ must be filed with an application certified by an Enterprise Zone Coordinator for the zone in which the business is located within 6 months of a qualifying event.