Swap effect with the class name. Port St. Lucie News Ft. Within three years, that figure is likely to surpass half a billion dollars. We re losing a couple hundred million dollars a year from people who, for the most part, are unwitting and unknowing tax cheats. Under Florida law, retail purchases of most goods are taxed at a statewide rate of 6 percent.
Most local governments add another penny.
Consumers are supposed to report and pay Florida s tax even if they aren t charged sales tax when making their purchase. Sounds simple enough, but the problem is that most folks don t know about this largely unenforceable law. If they do, it s cumbersome at best to comply. But shoppers aren t just buying GAP T-shirts. A growing number of websurfers are purchasing high-ticket items like computers, electronics and furniture.