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Sales Tax on Fishing Charters?
Capt. Chad Starling
March 2, 2009
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
Attention everyone!!! This is a lot to read, but it is very much worth it. I'm sending this to you so that you know what's going on in the fishing industry. Please make time to read it.
As it stands right now there is a "sales tax exemption" in place that means charter captains are not required to charge sales tax on fishing charters. However, the governement always keeps their nose in everything that goes on and apparently it is never going to end. It seems to just be getting worse and it drives me crazy!
Florida Guides Association Director, Capt. Bob Zales, has informed us that the Florida Sales Tax Exemption for charter boats is on the table again. The legislative session begins Monday, March 1. If this exemption is lifted it means that all charter captains will have to declare, collect, and pay sales tax on each charter. FGA will take action on behalf of the organization, but each individual needs to contact their state representative and senator and ask them to leave the exemption in place and NOT TO ELIMINATE IT!
This issue needs the attention of all our members. Guides, Associate Members, Business Members and any other contacts you have. Please act promptly to ask that the exemption remain as is and pass this message along to anyone interested party you know.
If it's not for them closing sections of the ocean so that we can't fish at all, or trying to close down the red snapper fishery, the vermillion snapper fishery, or the grouper fishery completely, they're putting ridiculous limits on all the species we currently fish for.
Why don't they just come out and say it? Just tell all Americans the government really just wants to close down the charter fishing industry all together. Fishing is a multi-billion dollar industry, just in Florida alone! They want to jeapordize that? I have people fishing with me from Canada, South Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, New York, Hawaii, just to name a few. Not to mention the number of local folks that go with me and eventually spend unknown amounts of money on fishing related items right here in Jacksonville! That's just my little piece of the pie on a part time basis.
I'm getting real sick of the government trying to fix everything by screwing it up! Enough is enough! I guess it all boils down that we, as fishermen, have to make up for the governement's financial short falls.
But how do they expect the fishing industry to help when we, as charter captains, can't generate any business because the fish people want to catch aren't available for harvest because the season has been closed; PLUS we have to charge clients extra to make up for a new sales tax law. Who's gonna go for that? I know I wouldn't. We just addressed this "sales tax law" about 6 months ago and here it is again!
We have to continue to fight tooth and nail for what's right and it really is ridiculous. I'm asking for your help in letting our voices be known.
You can find your representative and senator at this link.
http://myflorida.gov/taxonomy/government/legislative%20branch/
When you get to this page click on "senators" in the left hand column and then click on "find your legislators." You will be able to find your legislators by zip code.
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