Wilton Simpson announces proposal helping farmers receive tax relief
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced new legislation to help farmers more easily receive tax exemptions for the purchase of agriculture materials.
Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Hillsborough County, and Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, are sponsoring the legislation.
The proposal creates the Florida Farm Tax Exempt Agricultural Materials, or TEAM, Card that will be used for sales-tax-exempt purchases of agriculture materials.
“When farmers succeed, we all succeed, which is why we need to support our farmers and take any weight off their backs that we can,” Simpson said. “The Florida Farm TEAM Card will help to alleviate burdens felt by farmers and agricultural retailers in our state, and I applaud Senator Collins and Representative Alvarez for championing this commonsense legislation.”
The commissioner’s announcement said the legislation will reduce the burden of the current practice, which requires submitting paperwork for every tax-exempt purchase of agricultural materials.
The current process has become “onerous,” leading farmers to travel across state lines for other less burdensome programs.
“From spending my childhood on my family’s farm, to fighting for our country abroad, and now continuing service as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, I am committed to supporting our hardworking farmers and their livelihoods in our state,” Collins said. “I am proud to introduce this piece of legislation that will take some burden off of Florida’s farmers by modernizing the current and outdated process for agricultural producers to claim existing sales-tax exemptions.”
Alvarez said in a statement that the card would reduce barriers for businesses, farmers, and agriculture retailers across the state.
“The TEAM Card may be small and fit in a wallet but its economic impact will be huge by helping ensure that the purchase of farm supplies stays in Florida,” he said.
Simpson had previously announced his legislative priorities.
