Does Florida Have a Minimum Franchise Tax?
No. Florida does not impose a franchise tax on LLCs, corporations, or any other business entity. The state has no franchise tax requirement, no corporate income tax, and no gross receipts tax. This applies uniformly regardless of revenue, profits, or business structure. Florida's tax system relies on sales tax instead.
What You Actually Owe Florida
Your only recurring state-level obligation is the Annual Report, due between January 1 and May 1 each year. The filing fee is $138.75 under Fla. Stat. § 605.0213. Missing this deadline triggers a $400 late fee and potential administrative dissolution—but this is a filing fee, not a tax.
Federal Taxes Still Apply
While Florida imposes no state franchise tax, federal self-employment tax applies to LLC members. Single-member LLCs are treated as disregarded entities (Schedule C), and multi-member LLCs default to partnership taxation (Form 1065). Both structures may owe federal estimated taxes on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.
You may elect S-corp or C-corp federal taxation if it reduces your overall tax burden, though this requires additional compliance and federal filing fees.
Sales Tax Registration
Florida imposes a 6% state sales tax plus any applicable discretionary county surtax. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for sales tax at the Florida Department of Revenue (https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/taxesfees/Pages/sales_tax.aspx).
Action Items
- File your Articles of Organization with the Florida Division of Corporations ($125 filing fee).
- Register for sales tax if you sell taxable products or services.
- Mark your calendar for the annual report deadline (January 1–May 1 each year).
- Consult a tax professional about federal estimated tax payments and any beneficial tax elections.
For current tax guidance, contact the Florida Department of Revenue at https://floridarevenue.com/.
This is general information, not legal advice.