HB 1897 2003
   
1 A bill to be entitled
2          An act relating to the taxable price of bundled
3    transactions; amending s. 202.11, F.S.; revising a
4    definition; creating s. 202.165, F.S.; providing a
5    definition; specifying the taxable price of certain
6    bundled transactions; providing the Department of Revenue
7    enforcement powers and rulemaking authority; specifying
8    duties and responsibilities of dealers and the department
9    in regard to customers; providing an effective date.
10         
11          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12         
13          Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (15) of section
14    202.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
15          202.11 Definitions.--As used in this chapter:
16          (15) "Service address" means:
17          (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
18    location of the communications equipment from which
19    communications services originate or at which communications
20    services are received by the customer. If the location of such
21    equipment cannot be determined as part of the billing process,
22    as in the case of third-number and calling-card calls and
23    similar services, the term means the location determined by the
24    dealer based on the customer's telephone number, the customer's
25    mailing address to which bills are sent by the dealer, or
26    another street address provided by the customer.In the case of
27    a communications service paid through a credit or payment
28    mechanism that does not relate to a service address, such as a
29    bank, travel, debit, or credit card, and in the case of third-
30    number and calling-card calls,the service address is the
31    address of the central office, as determined by the area code
32    and the first three digits of the seven-digit originating
33    telephone number.
34          Section 2. Section 202.165, Florida Statutes, is created
35    to read:
36          202.165 Taxable price of bundled transactions.-—
37          (1) For purposes of this section, a "bundled transaction"
38    means a transaction consisting of distinct and identifiable
39    properties or services which are sold for a single nonitemized
40    sales price but which are treated differently for tax purposes.
41    The provisions of this section shall not apply to services
42    defined in s. 202.11(3)(h).
43          (2) In the case of a bundled transaction that includes
44    communications services:
45          (a) If the sales price is attributable to properties or
46    services that are taxable and properties or services that are
47    nontaxable, the portion of the sales price attributable to the
48    nontaxable properties or services shall be subject to tax unless
49    the dealer reasonably identifies and allocates such portion from
50    its books and records kept in the regular course of business for
51    other purposes.
52          (b) If the sales price is attributable to properties or
53    services that are taxable at different rates, the total sales
54    price shall be treated as attributable to the properties or
55    services taxable at the highest rate unless the selling dealer
56    reasonably identifies and allocates the portion of the sales
57    price attributable to the properties or services taxable at a
58    lower rate from its books and records kept in the regular course
59    of business for other purposes.
60          (3) If upon audit the department determines that the
61    selling dealer did not reasonably identify and allocate the
62    portions of the nonitemized sales price for purposes of
63    collecting and remitting tax on those portions of the
64    nonitemized sales price subject to tax under the law of this
65    state, or taxable at varying rates, the department may
66    redetermine the allocation to correctly reflect the proper
67    amount of tax due on the different properties or services and
68    determine and assess any resulting deficiency.
69          (4) The department is granted specific rulemaking
70    authority to adopt rules relating to the determination of
71    whether the portions of the single nonitemized sales price have
72    been reasonably identified and allocated based on books and
73    records and the types of books and records used to support such
74    identification. Such books and records shall include, but not be
75    limited to, items such as the dealer’s general ledger; price
76    lists; invoices, customer bills, and cost records; tariffs and
77    other regulatory filings; and rules or orders of regulatory
78    authorities.
79          (5) Upon written request from a customer currently under
80    audit under chapter 202 and, if applicable, chapter 212, the
81    selling dealer shall provide a written explanation of how the
82    sales price was apportioned to services and property involved in
83    the transaction for purposes of calculating the tax due. The
84    explanation must be provided within 60 days after receipt of the
85    customer request.
86          (6) This section does not create any customer right to
87    require that a selling dealer or the department identify the
88    different portions of bundled transactions to minimize the
89    customer’s payment of tax.
90          Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.
91