Sales Tax in Winter Haven, Florida in 2024

The combined sales tax rate for Winter Haven, Florida is 7.00%. Your total sales tax rate combines the Florida state tax (6.00%) and the Polk County sales tax (1.00%). Winter Haven doesn’t levy a city sales tax, nor a special tax.

We'll walk you through how the sales tax rate is determined for Winter Haven and address some common questions you may have. We'll also cover how to collect, audit, and remit sales tax in Winter Haven.

Plus, we’ll share the best solution that will ensure you are always compliant across the entire sales tax lifecycle.

Disclaimer: Our sales tax data is updated on a quarterly basis.

Winter Haven Sales Tax Rate 2024

Winter Haven is located in Polk County in Florida, United States, and has a sales tax rate of 7.00%. This includes local and state sales tax rates.

Here is the breakdown of the Winter Haven's sales tax:

This rate applies to the following zip codes in Winter Haven:

How Does the Winter Haven Sales Tax Compare to the Rest of Florida?

Florida doesn’t have a large range when it comes to sales tax across its cities, since there are no city or special taxes in Florida. That said, the Winter Haven sales tax rate of 7.00% is among the highest in the state. It is only 0.50% lower than Florida’s highest rate, which is 7.50% in places like Ponce De Leon.

Winter Haven’s rate is 1.00% higher than Florida’s lowest sales tax, which stands at 6.00% in places like Marco Island.

To give you a better idea, here’s a comparison of Winter Haven sales tax rates with a few other cities in Florida:

You can also compare the sales tax rate of Winter Haven against the Florida cities closest in population size:

• Bradenton's sales tax rate is 7.00%
• Bonita Springs's sales tax rate is 6.50%

What Creates Sales Tax Nexus in Winter Haven?

Winter Haven follows the Florida state sales tax law. There are no separate nexus rules specifically for Winter Haven other than the Florida state tax law.

Read More: Check out this detailed guide on Sales Tax in Florida.

Florida state sales tax nexus rules include:

• Economic Nexus: Businesses that sell any taxable items. 
• Physical Location: Businesses with physical establishments, such as a warehouse, office, or distribution in the state.
• Employee Location: Businesses with employees and other representatives in Florida.
• Affiliate Nexus: Out-of-state businesses making remote sales of $100,000 or more in the previous calendar year.
• Trade Shows: Businesses that sell taxable goods and services in trade shows.
• Tangible Personal Property: Businesses that sell any taxable tangible personal property.  

What Products Are Exempt from Winter Haven Sales Tax?

Florida sales tax law grants certain tax exemptions, which apply to Winter Haven as well. (There are no separate exemptions for Winter Haven taxpayers outside of these.) 

• Common household medicines like allergy relief products and antiseptics.
• Chemical compounds and test kits like allergy test kits and blood pressure kits.
• Cosmetics and toilet articles like suntan lotion, makeup, and body lotion.
• Optical goods like prescription glasses and contact lenses.
• General groceries like baking goods and cereal products.
• Infant supplies like baby formulas and teething powder.
• Seeds and fertilizers like herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides.

Who Needs a Sales Tax Permit in Winter Haven?

A sales tax permit or seller's permit is typically issued by states in the United States. You can apply for one at the Florida Department of Revenue website or use a DR-1 form. A seller's permit allows you to collect and remit sales tax on your products.

You need one if you:

• Sell and manufacture any taxable items in Winter Haven or anywhere in Florida.
• Repair or alter tangible personal property.
• Rent or lease real and personal property (commercial office space or hotels).
• Charges for admission to any place of amusement, sport, or recreation.
• Operate private membership clubs.
• Sell Imported goods or use them in the business.
• Sell service warranty contracts.
• Provide taxable services.

How to Collect Sales Tax in Winter Haven

Since Florida is a destination-based sales tax sourcing state, the same applies to Winter Haven. This implies that when you sell a taxable product in Florida, you should charge the sales tax rate of the buyer’s delivery address.

Florida sales tax rules apply to all interstate and intrastate sales made to a Florida delivery address.

For instance, if a business is located in Newark, New Jersey and sells to a buyer in Winter Haven, Florida, they have to charge the buyer the Winter Haven sales tax rate.    

Learn more about origin-based and destination-based sales tax sourcing here.

How to File and Pay Sales Tax in Winter Haven

Taxpayers have four options for filing and paying a Winter Haven sales tax return:

• File and pay sales tax online at the Florida Department of Revenue website.
• File and pay by mail by using Florida form DR-15. 
• Or, you can say goodbye to the tedious paperwork and hello to stress-free sales tax management with Zamp. We help you automate sales tax filings, check your transactions, and manage the nitty-gritty of ongoing compliance without a third-party — wherever you are in the United States! 

With our white-glove onboarding, rooftop accurate calculations, proactive nexus monitoring, expert tax professional services, and click-to-approve sales tax registrations & filings, we take care of all the sales tax responsibilities for you. You can focus on your business and clients without worrying about the complexities of sales tax. We also ensure that you always stay compliant.