BE ALERT FOR FICTITIOUS NAME RENEWAL EMAILS

If your business has a “doing business as” name (also called a fictitious name) registered with the State of Florida’s Division of Corporations, the name must be renewed every 5 years. The state charges $50 for every 5-year renewal.

Please be alert for emails from private companies with names like “Florida Fictitious Name Publishing.” These solicitations try to get you to pay extra money to renew your fictitious name. It easy to renew the name yourself using the state of Florida’s website Sunbiz.org, and there is no need to pay one of these companies.

FUBA members with questions about emails they receive can call the FUBA offices at 800-262-4483.

WORK HOURS FOR TEENS WHEN SCHOOL STARTS

When summer is over and school starts again, new work restrictions kick in for employees under 18 years old and there are limits on how much they can work. Here’s what you need to know if your business has employees under 18.

14- and 15-year-olds:

  • Cannot work during school hours.
  • Can work up to 15 hours per week.
  • Can work up to 3 hours a day on school days when there is school the next day.
  • Can work up to 8 hours on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and non-school days when there is no school the next day.
  • Cannot work more than 4 hours without a 30-minute break. The break can be unpaid.
  • Cannot work after 7:00 pm on school days when there is school the next day.  Can work until 9:00 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and non-school days where there is no school the next day.
  • Cannot work more than 6 days in a row.

16- and 17-year-olds:

  • Cannot work during school hours unless they have a waiver, have graduated or have their GED, or are home schooled or virtually schooled.
  • Can work up to 30 hours a week.
  • Can work up to 40 hours a week if their parents or school superintendent sign a waiver.
  • Can work up to 8 hours a day when school is scheduled for the following day.  On Sundays and holidays, they can work more than 8 hours a day even if school is the next day.
  • Can work more than 8 hours a day if there is no school the following day. 
  • Must take a 30-minute break every 4 hours when working an 8-hour shift.
  • Cannot work before 6:30 am or after 11:00 pm when school is scheduled the following day.

Year-round requirements for employees under the age of 18:

  • All employees must be paid at least the Florida minimum wage. As of the date of this newsletter, the Florida minimum wage is $13 an hour, with a minimum cash wage for tipped employees of $9.98 per hour. Please note: The Florida minimum wage will increase to $14 on September 30, 2025.
  • Businesses with employees under 18 must post a Child Labor poster at their workplace and keep a copy of the employee’s driver’s license or birth certificate as proof of their age.
  • Certain jobs are prohibited year-round for employees under 18. Please refer to the Child Labor poster for more details.

FUBA members can request a free child labor poster by calling the FUBA offices at 800-262-4483.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY FOR AUGUST

For the entire month of August, the following items are exempt from the Florida sales tax:

  • School supplies selling for $50 or less.
  • Clothes, shoes, and accessories selling for $100 or less.
  • Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less.
  • Personal computers and some computer accessories selling for $1,500 or less when purchased for personal use (not business use).

Unlike prior years, there is no ability for businesses to opt out of the Back to School Tax Holiday; businesses are now required to participate.

Businesses selling these items are responsible for knowing which items are tax-exempt during August and must promptly refund to the customer any sales tax mistakenly charged. Sales tax becomes state funds the moment it is collected from the customer. If the tax cannot be refunded, it must be reported and paid to the Florida Department of Revenue.

Sales of tax-free items must be reported as exempt sales to the Florida Department of Revenue on the next sales tax filing after the tax-free holiday. For more information, visit the Department of Revenue’s website: floridarevenue.com/BacktoSchool.

HUNTING, FISHING, AND CAMPING SUPPLIES ARE TAX-FREE SEPTEMBER 8TH – DECEMBER 31ST

Hunting, fishing, and camping supplies will be tax-free starting September 8th through the end of the year. If your business sells these items, plan now to stop collecting sales tax on them through the end of the year.  

  • Camping lanterns and flashlights selling for $30 or less
  • Camping stoves, portable hammocks, camping chairs, and sleeping bags selling for $50 or less
  • Tents selling for $200 or less
  • Ammunition, firearms and accessories, and bows and crossbows and their accessories
  • Bait and fishing tackle selling for $5 or less
  • Tackle boxes selling for $30 or less
  • Rods and reels selling for $150 or less as a set

If your business sells any of these items, do not collect sales tax on them from September 8, 2025 through December 31, 2025. Report these sales as exempt on your Florida sales tax filing. For more information, visit the Department of Revenue’s website: floridarevenue.com/HuntFishCamp.