The (Doc Stamp) Tax Man Cometh

As the saying goes, “death and taxes are the only two certain things in life.” This adage holds true in Florida, particularly when it comes to real estate transactions. The Florida documentary stamp tax, referred to here as the “stamp tax,” is an excise tax applied to certain documents related to real estate transactions, as outlined in Ch. 201, F.S. The stamp tax primarily affects real estate transactions in two areas — deeds and mortgages. However, there are plenty of other instances where the stamp tax can be triggered, which will be further explored in this article. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the basic principles behind the stamp tax, determine what documents are subject to it, and provide resources for further research. Read the article