Business Fictitious Name

A prerequisite to receiving a Business Tax Receipt is the applicant or new owner must present to the Tax Collector's Office either a copy of the applicant's fictitious name registration, issued by the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, or a written statement, signed by the applicant or new owner, which sets forth the reason that the applicant or new owner need not comply with the Fictitious Name Act (Florida Statute 205.023).

A Fictitious Name is any name used for a business in this state, other than the owner's legal name (legal name is a person's given name, first and last), or incorporated name, or an entity that is properly registered ( trade marks, service marks, corporations, limited partnerships). Business means any enterprise or venture in which a person sells, buys, exchanges, barters, deals, or represents the dealing in any thing or article of value, or renders services for compensation. The fee to obtain a fictitious name is $50.00 and is non-refundable. The fictitious name registration is valid for 5 years and expires on December 31, of the fifth year.

Failure to comply with fictitious name registration provisions of 865.09, Florida Statutes, is a misdemeanor of the second degree and punishable as provided in section 775.083, Florida Statutes.