You’re standing at a register in Fort Lauderdale or maybe grabbing a quick bite in Hollywood, and you glance at the receipt. You notice the tax isn't just a flat 6%. It's more. Most folks assume Florida has one set tax rate for everything, but that's just not how it works on the ground. Broward County sales tax Florida rules are actually a bit of a moving target depending on what you’re buying and how much it costs.
Honestly, the math can get weird.
Florida’s base sales tax is 6%. That’s the state’s cut. But Florida law allows counties to tack on their own "discretionary sales surtaxes." Broward currently adds a 1% surtax for transportation. So, when you’re out shopping, you’re basically looking at a 7% total sales tax rate on most items.
The Transportation Tax Reality
Back in 2018, Broward voters approved this 1% surtax to fund a massive 30-year plan for transportation improvements. We're talking about better buses, synchronized traffic lights, and rail projects. It went into effect in 2019. Before that, Broward was actually one of the few places in South Florida where you could save a tiny bit of money compared to Palm Beach or Miami-Dade. Not anymore.
Now, everyone pays that extra penny on the dollar.
But here is the kicker: that 1% surtax doesn't apply to every single cent of a massive purchase. If you buy a $40,000 car in Fort Lauderdale, you aren't paying 7% on the whole $40,000. Florida has a "bracket system" and a cap. For the local surtax (the 1% part), it only applies to the first $5,000 of a purchase. The state’s 6% applies to the whole thing.
Let's break that down. If you buy a piece of heavy equipment for $10,000, you pay 6% ($600) to the state for the full amount. Then you pay the 1% Broward surtax ($50) on the first $5,000. Anything over that $5,000 threshold is exempt from the local surtax. It sounds like a small detail, but for business owners and people making big-ticket purchases, it's a huge deal.
What Actually Gets Taxed in Broward?
It’s not just "stuff" you buy at the mall. The Broward County sales tax Florida covers a surprisingly wide net.
- Retail Goods: Your clothes, electronics, and furniture.
- Admissions: Think movies, concerts at the FLA Live Arena, or entry to local attractions.
- Rentals: If you’re renting a car or even short-term living space (though hotels have an extra "bed tax" we'll talk about in a second).
- Services: Certain services like pest control, security, or non-residential cleaning are taxable.
Common stuff like groceries and prescription meds are generally exempt. That’s a state-level rule. You aren't paying tax on your milk or your heart medication. But be careful—prepared food is a different story. If you buy a rotisserie chicken that’s hot and ready to eat, that’s considered a "service" of sorts, and you’ll see that 7% hit your bill.
The "Bed Tax" and Why Tourists Pay More
If you’re visiting Broward or booking a "staycation" at a beach resort, the 7% is just the beginning. Broward County levies a 6% Tourist Development Tax, often called the bed tax.
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This applies to any rental of six months or less.
When you add the 7% sales tax to the 6% tourist tax, you’re looking at a 13% total tax on your hotel room. This money is what fuels the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. It pays for beach renourishment (pumping sand back onto the beach after hurricanes) and advertising the county to people in cold places like New York or London.
Does it matter where you live?
Yes and no.
Sales tax is usually based on where the item is delivered or where the transaction happens. If you live in Miami-Dade (which also has a 7% rate) but you drive up to a dealership in Pembroke Pines to buy a car, you’re paying the rate of the county where you register the vehicle.
If you're buying something online, things get even more complex. Since the South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision, Florida requires out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax if they hit a certain sales threshold. If you order a laptop from a site that has no physical store in Florida, they’ll still look at your Broward shipping address and charge you that 7%.
How Broward Spends Your Tax Dollars
People get grumpy about taxes. It's human nature. But in Broward, that 1% transportation surtax is strictly audited. There is an Independent Oversight Board. They actually meet to make sure the money isn't just disappearing into a general fund.
They’ve used the funds for:
- Expanding the Broward County Transit (BCT) bus fleet with electric buses.
- Fixing thousands of potholes across 31 different municipalities.
- Funding the "Premium Mobility Plan" which looks at light rail and bus rapid transit.
Without this local tax, Broward would be relying entirely on state and federal grants, which are notoriously fickle. By having their own dedicated revenue stream, the county can actually plan decades into the future. It’s why you see so much construction on Sunrise Boulevard or University Drive—a lot of that is tax money at work.
Common Misconceptions About Florida Sales Tax
A lot of people think Florida has no taxes because we don't have a state income tax.
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That’s a myth.
The state has to get its money from somewhere. That "somewhere" is consumption. If you buy a lot of stuff, you pay a lot of tax. If you’re a high-earner who lives frugally, you win. But if you’re a tourist or a heavy spender, Florida (and Broward specifically) is definitely getting its cut.
Another weird one: Tax-Free Holidays. Florida loves these. Usually, around August (Back to School) or during "Disaster Preparedness" season, the state waives the 6% and the local 1% surtax on specific items. But there are always price caps. For example, during Back to School, clothes under $100 might be tax-free, but that $200 designer shirt will still be taxed. You have to read the fine print from the Florida Department of Revenue every single year because the legislature changes the rules constantly.
Business Owner Obligations
If you’re running a business in Broward, you’re the unpaid tax collector for the state. You have to register with the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR). You collect the 7%, and you remit it.
If you forget to collect that extra 1% Broward surtax, you’re still on the hook for it. The DOR doesn't care if you forgot; they want their 7%.
Business owners also need to know about Use Tax. This is the one that trips everyone up. If you buy something for your business from an out-of-state vendor who doesn't charge sales tax, you are technically supposed to calculate the 7% yourself and send it to the state. It’s called "Use Tax," and it’s the number one thing people get caught on during an audit.
Nuance in the Numbers
The 7% isn't universal for every single transaction type in Florida. For instance, the tax on commercial real estate rentals is different. For a long time, Florida was the only state that taxed commercial leases. Recently, the state legislature has been slashing this rate. As of late 2024 and moving into 2025/2026, the state portion of the commercial rental tax has been dropped significantly (down to 2.0% in many cases), but the local Broward 1% surtax still applies on top of that reduced rate.
If you are a small business owner renting a storefront in a Broward strip mall, your total tax on rent might be closer to 3% or 4% total, rather than the 7% you pay for a stapler.
This creates a "tax sandwich" that requires a good accountant to navigate.
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Why Broward Isn't Likely to Lower the Rate
Honestly? Broward is growing. The infrastructure is under massive strain. Between the population boom and the influx of tourists, the "wear and tear" on the county is extreme.
There’s often talk in Tallahassee about capping local surtaxes, but Broward leaders fight that tooth and nail. They argue that because Broward is a "donor county" (meaning it sends more tax money to the state than it gets back in services), these local surtaxes are the only way to keep the lights on and the buses running.
Actionable Steps for Navigating Broward Taxes
If you're living in or moving to Broward, here's how to handle the sales tax landscape without getting burned.
Check the "Tax-Free" Calendars
Don't buy a new laptop or a generator in July if there is a tax holiday in August or June. You can save 7% instantly. On a $1,500 MacBook, that’s over $100 back in your pocket. The Florida Department of Revenue posts these schedules months in advance.
Understand the $5,000 Cap
If you are buying big—like a boat, a car, or industrial equipment—ensure your invoice correctly reflects the surtax cap. You should only be paying that 1% Broward portion on the first $5,000. If a seller tries to charge you 7% on a $50,000 item ($3,500), they are overcharging you. It should be 6% on $50,000 ($3,000) plus 1% on $5,000 ($50), totaling $3,050. That’s a $450 difference.
Keep Your Receipts for Business
If you work in a field like construction or interior design, sales tax is a pass-through cost. You need to be meticulous. Broward is part of the "Surtax" world, and if you're quoting jobs across county lines (like a job in Boca Raton vs. a job in Deerfield Beach), your quotes need to reflect that. Palm Beach County has a different surtax structure than Broward.
Verify "Resale" Certificates
If you’re a wholesaler or a flipper, get your Annual Resale Certificate. This allows you to buy goods tax-free in Broward provided you intend to sell them and collect the tax from the end consumer.
Look at the Commercial Lease
If you are signing a business lease in Fort Lauderdale, don't just look at the base rent. Look at the "Sales Tax on Commercial Real Property." Since this rate has been changing due to recent Florida Senate bills, make sure your landlord isn't using an outdated (higher) rate from three years ago.
Navigating taxes in Broward isn't exactly a fun Saturday afternoon, but knowing the 7% breakdown and the $5,000 cap can save you a surprising amount of money over time. Keep an eye on the November ballots every few years, too—that’s where these "discretionary" taxes live or die.