Hillsborough County, Florida - A recent class action settlement has opened the door for millions of people to receive a refund on an illegally collected sales tax.
Any individual or business who resided in or visited Hillsborough County between January 1, 2019, and March 15, 2021, may now be eligible to claim a portion of their paid sales tax back.
The settlement concerns a 1% surtax that was later declared unconstitutional.
The defendants, including Hillsborough County, the Florida Department of Revenue, and the Florida Legislature, have agreed to a settlement without admitting wrongdoing.
The total amount available for refunds is approximately $569 million.
The tax was imposed on most transactions subject to the state's sales and use tax, including retail purchases, service payments, event tickets, hotel stays, and commercial rent.
Eligible individuals have two options to claim a refund:
Submit receipts or other proof to receive a full refund of the surtax paid.
For former Hillsborough County residents: Claim a standard amount of up to $100 without providing documentation.
To receive a refund, eligible persons must submit a claim via www.FLTaxRefund.com by December 31, 2024. The administrator will attempt to verify residency without additional documentation, but in some cases, proof may be required.
A virtual court hearing is scheduled for November 7, 2024, at 2:00 PM to consider approval of the settlement. Individuals wishing to object to or opt out of the settlement must do so by October 25, 2024.
Local officials have stated that the refund process will not impact current county services or budgets, as the refunded money comes from a separate fund created when the tax was collected.
