On May 25, 2017 Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 7109, which is supposed to reduce the state sales tax rate on commercial leases from 6% to 5.8% starting 1/1/18. This rate decrease will be applicable to new leases. In addition, there is no change to the local surtax, which for Sarasota county is currently 1%. As a result, effective rate in Sarasota County for leases starting on or after January 1, 2018, would be 6.8%.