[elchevere]

If you haven’t noticed yet you soon will that the State of Florida is now taxing health club memberships 7% as of the beginning of 2024…..the increase in your dues is coming from the State, not your gym.

Doesn’t the State have other “non productive” venues it could target instead???. Oh well.

[Ghaati]

Originally Posted by elchevere

If you haven’t noticed yet you soon will that the State of Florida is now taxing health club memberships 7% as of the beginning of 2024…..the increase in your dues is coming from the State, not your gym.

Doesn’t the State have other “non productive” venues it could target instead???. Oh well.

This is not new. Gym memberships have been subject to Florida sales tax since at least 2017 - so at least 7 years. If you google "gym membership tax florida" you'll see several articles dated 2017 that discuss it.

[elchevere]

Originally Posted by Ghaati

This is not new. Gym memberships have been subject to Florida sales tax since at least 2017 - so at least 7 years. If you google "gym membership tax florida" you'll see several articles dated 2017 that discuss it.

Hmmm…that’s not what Equinox told me today. Is it possible Equinox didn’t charge the sales tax up until this month OR did they really increase their monthly fees, instead, and the General Manager at the Brickell club is full of crap or doesn’t know his job?…The increase is not much but I want to find out the reason behind it. He’s the one who claimed a new law went into effect earlier this year. Thanks for sharing above information.

[MOforthewin]

Either way, the state of FL Could use more gyms. I've never seen more obese people than here in FL, especially south of Tampa. I know age is a factor around here but even the young people are rather plump.

[LKJ1988]

I never go to jims.

[Arcenal813]

I noticed this too. I use “The Gym Downtown” in Orlando. I signed up two months ago. The monthly membership is the same as it was when I was a member 3 years ago, but I noticed the total cost change and asked them if there were new fees that previously weren’t there. Sure enough, yep, new tax.

[elchevere]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

I noticed this too. I use “The Gym Downtown” in Orlando. I signed up two months ago. The monthly membership is the same as it was when I was a member 3 years ago, but I noticed the total cost change and asked them if there were new fees that previously weren’t there. Sure enough, yep, new tax.

Explanation from my gym:


Thanks for reaching out. What you are seeing is the sales tax that has resumed.

This was due to a state law, FL House Bill 7063, which was a sales tax holiday on recreational items and events, which included your membership dues and fees. It came into effect early in 2023 and ran through to the end of December 2023. This law has now concluded, with no extension and is why you are now seeing tax returning to your membership.

In other words, there was a tax pause for a little while. I hope that helps.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by elchevere

Explanation from my gym:


Thanks for reaching out. What you are seeing is the sales tax that has resumed.

This was due to a state law, FL House Bill 7063, which was a sales tax holiday on recreational items and events, which included your membership dues and fees. It came into effect early in 2023 and ran through to the end of December 2023. This law has now concluded, with no extension and is why you are now seeing tax returning to your membership.

In other words, there was a tax pause for a little while. I hope that helps.

Makes sense. Thanks!

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by MOforthewin

Either way, the state of FL Could use more gyms. I've never seen more obese people than here in FL, especially south of Tampa. I know age is a factor around here but even the young people are rather plump.

Agreed. Floridians are eating way too much fried chicken and subs from Publix.

Perhaps Publix might join the existing decade and realize that not everyone wants fat- and sodium-filled foods from the deli? Their deli looks like a relic from 1989.........fried chicken, mashed potatoes, barely warmed up green beans swimming in fat, chicken strips, subs, oversalted stale popcorn, overcooked and DRY baked chickens, yuck. Hey as long as it sells, Publix doesn't care if people drop dead.

As for a tax on gyms, I guess the FREE STATE of Florida ain't that free LOL! Another tax on Floridians, in addition to exorbitant home, auto insurance and utility bills!

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by sinatras

Agreed. Floridians are eating way too much fried chicken and subs from Publix.

Perhaps Publix might join the existing decade and realize that not everyone wants fat- and sodium-filled foods from the deli? Their deli looks like a relic from 1989.........fried chicken, mashed potatoes, barely warmed up green beans swimming in fat, chicken strips, subs, oversalted stale popcorn, overcooked and DRY baked chickens, yuck. Hey as long as it sells, Publix doesn't care if people drop dead.

As for a tax on gyms, I guess the FREE STATE of Florida ain't that free LOL! Another tax on Floridians, in addition to exorbitant home, auto insurance and utility bills!

In their defense, one doesn't HAVE to buy junk from the deli... I sometimes pre-order their summer rolls for lunch. Or pre-order a custom salad (order a "sub" online, and make it spinach or lettuce-based instead of bread, and you can add whatever you want. I don't care much for deli meat, so I sometimes get falafel, baked tofu, or something like that.

What "baked chicken?" Their rotisserie? A bit lacking in flavor, sure, but dry? First time I hear that.