Jobs Tax Credit  (State Sales & Use Tax)

Allows businesses, who collect and pay Florida sales and use tax, a monthly credit against their tax due on wages paid to new, full-time employees who have been employed by the business for at least 3 months and are residents of an Enterprise Zone or are Welfare Transition Program participants.   A new job must be created before the business earns a tax credit.

If less than 20% of permanent, full-time employees are residents of an Enterprise Zone, this incentive provides a credit of 20% of the monthly wages paid to new eligible employees who are residents of an Enterprise Zone.  If 20% or more of permanent, full-time employees are residents of an Enterprise Zone, this incentive provides a credit of 30% of the monthly wages paid to new eligible employees who are residents of an Enterprise Zone.  This credit is limited to 24 months if the employee remains employed for 24 months and is not available if the Jobs Tax Credit (State Corporate Income Tax) is taken.  All required forms must be filed with the Department of Revenue within six months of hire date.  This tax credit program will expire on December 31, 2005.  (s. 212.096, F.S)

Jobs Tax Credit  (State Corporate Income Tax)

Allows businesses, who collect and pay Florida Corporate Income tax, a credit against their tax due on wages paid to new, full-time employees who have been employed by the business for at least 3 months and are residents of an Enterprise Zone or are Welfare Transition Program participants. 

If less than 20% of the permanent, full-time employees of the business are residents of an EZ, this incentive provides a credit of 20% of the monthly wages paid to new eligible employees who are residents of an EZ.  If 20% or more of the permanent, full-time employees are residents of an EZ, this incentive provides a credit of 30% of the monthly wages paid to new eligible employees who are residents of an EZ.  This credit is limited to 24 months if the employee remains employed for 24 months and is not available if  the Jobs Tax Credit (Sales & Use Tax) is taken.   This tax credit program will expire on June 30, 2005.  (s. 220.181, F.S.)

Business Equipment Refund  (State Sales & Use Tax)

A refund is available for state sales taxes paid on the purchase of qualified business equipment which is used exclusively in an Enterprise Zone (EZ) for at least 3 years.  Business equipment must have a sales price of at least $5,000 per unit.  The refund is 97% of the state sales tax (6%) paid on business equipment.  If less than 20% of permanent, full-time employees are residents of an Enterprise Zone, the maximum refund per application will be no more than $5,000.   If 20% or more of permanent, full-time employees are residents of an Enterprise Zone, the maximum refund per allocation will be no more than $10,000. There is no limit on the number of applications that can be filed. All required forms must be filed with the Department of Revenue within six months after the equipment is purchased or the tax is due. This tax refund program will expire on December 31, 2005. (s. 212.08 (5)(h), F.S.)

Building Materials Refund (State Sales & Use Tax)

A refund is available for state sales taxes paid on the purchase of building materials used to construct real property located in a Florida Enterprise Zone (EZ). This refund is only available one time per parcel of real estate.  The total amount of the state sales tax refund must be at least $500.   If less than 20% of the business’ permanent, full-time employees are residents of the Enterprise Zone, the maximum refund per application will be no more than $5,000 or 97% of the state sales tax paid.  If 20% or more of the business’ permanent, full-time employees are residents of the Enterprise Zone the refund will be no more than the lesser of $10,000 or 97% of the state sales tax paid.   This tax refund program will expire on December 31, 2005.  (s. 212.08(5)(g), F.S)

Property Tax Credit (State Corporate Income Tax)

New or expanding businesses are allowed a credit on Florida Corporate Income tax paid.  This credit is calculated based on the amount of ad valorem taxes paid.  The business must earn more than $5,000 and establish 5 or more new full-time jobs to take advantage of this credit.   If less than 20% of the business’ permanent, full-time employees are residents of the Enterprise Zone, the maximum refund of $25,000 annual credit can be claimed for 5 years.  If 20% or more of the business’ permanent, full-time employees are residents of the Enterprise Zone the maximum refund of $50,000 annual credit can be claimed for 5 years.  Any unused portion of the credit may be carried forward for 5 years, however, unless the Enterprise Zone Program is extended, the credit will become void on June 20, 2005. (s. 220.182, F.S.)

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This program seeks to encourage economic development in historically underutilized business zones - HUBZones - through the establishment of preferences for award of Federal contracts to small businesses located in these areas. The programs falls under the auspices of the U.S. Small Business Administration. As of October 1, 2000, all Federal departments and agencies involved with procurement must factor into their contracting plans annual goals that have been established for the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program (FY2002 - 2.5% of total Federal prime contract awards, FY 2003 and each fiscal year thereafter - 3%)

For a business to qualify as a HUBZone small business the following criteria must be met:

- Small business by SBA standards

- Located in a HUBZone

- Owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation, or Indian Tribe

- At least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZone

Another benefit that HUBZone businesses are eligible for is higher SBA-guaranteed surety bonds on construction and service contract bids.

The district office that works with the City of St. Petersburg's HUBZone is the South Florida DO. Contacts at the office are Jack Geis (305-536-5841) or Gilbert Colon (305-536-5527).

Additional information can be obtained at www.sba.gov/hubzone the HUBZone web page.

To view a HUBZone Map, Click here.

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A new or expanding company that creates new full-time jobs in specified industries including manufacturing (SIC 20-SIC 39) can receive a $500 credit per job.  A new company must create at least 30 new jobs and an existing business must have at least 15 more qualified employees than it had one year prior to its date of application   The incentive is a state corporate income tax credit or state sales/use tax credit of $500 per job. Credit is one time only for each new hire.   (s. 212.097, F.S.)

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View forms  View official narrative and list of industries

This program provides an inducement for target industry to locate new facilities in Florida or to expand existing facilities in Florida. The program provides tax refunds (Corporate, Insurance premium, Sales/Use, Intangible personal property, Emergency excise,  Excise taxes on documents, Ad valorem) of $6,000 per job if the company locates in the Enterprise Zone. Greater awards are available to companies paying very high wages. To qualify for the QTI program, a company must create at least 10 new jobs (or a 10 percent increase for expanding Florida companies), pay an average of at least 115 percent of area wages, have a significant positive impact on the community and have local support.   The City may request waiver of average wages requirement, since this project is located in a brownfield area and Enterprise zone, but only if the merits of the project in relation to the community warrant such action.

Funds may not be expended in connection with the relocation of a business from one community to another community in Florida unless Florida’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development determines that without such relocation the business will move outside Florida or determines that the business has a compelling economic rationale for the relocation and that the relocation will create additional jobs.  The business must file an application before the business has made the decision to locate a new business in this state or before the business had made the decision to expand an existing business in this state.   (s. 288.106, F.S.)

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This is a state grant to the City of St. Petersburg on behalf of the business. The grant used to alleviate a transportation problem that adversely impacts the company’s location or expansion decision.  The business must file an application before the business has made the decision to locate a new business in this state or before the business had made the decision to expand an existing business in this state.

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A State Tax Refund of 20 percent of average annual wage of new jobs create up to $2,500 per new job.  The business must be eligible for QTI or make a $2 million capital investment and create 10 new Florida full-time jobs with benefits, and provide City/County resolution providing 20 percent of tax refund.  (s. 288.107, F.S.)

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The program offers an annual credit against the corporate income tax for up to 20 years in an amount equal to 5 percent of the eligible capital costs generated by a qualifying project.  The business must apply and be certified by the state of Florida prior to the commencement of operations.  The business must be in a designated high impact sector, create at least 100 new jobs in Florida and make a cumulative capital investment of at least $25 million. (s. 220.191, F.S.)

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The program provides sales and use tax exemption on manufacturing machinery, equipment and electricity used in manufacturing.  New and expanding businesses must apply to the State of Florida prior to purchasing the MME and beginning production. Other rules apply and businesses should obtain complete program information.  Contact the Florida Department of Revenue at (850) 488-6387 for more information.

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The Dome Industrial Park Pilot Project site is grandfathered from the transportation impact fee for a 450,000 SF MOL industrial or business use project .

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