Credit card processing and merchant services in Cape Coral, FL
Lee County adds a single half-cent school surtax to Florida's 6%, so Cape Coral's 6.5% ties Orlando's for the lowest rate on our Florida pages. Ship an order to Tampa or St. Petersburg and the rate goes up.
Cape Coral's general sales tax rate is 6.5%: Florida's 6% plus Lee County's 0.5% school capital outlay surtax. The Department of Revenue's Tax Information Publication 18A01-25 says voters approved that surtax on November 6, 2018, and that it took effect January 1, 2019, to run through December 31, 2028. The Department's current surtax form lists the same dates. Of the Florida cities we cover, only Orlando matches Cape Coral's rate.
That 6.5% only applies to orders delivered inside Lee County. Florida taxes a delivery at the surtax rate of the county where it arrives, so an order you ship to St. Petersburg carries Pinellas County's 7%, and one shipped to Tampa carries Hillsborough's 7.5%. If you sell online or deliver around the state, set your checkout to tax by delivery address instead of charging 6.5% on everything.
A half-cent surtax also makes Florida's $5,000 rule easy to work out. For certain transactions, only the first $5,000 is subject to surtax, so Lee County's share on a qualifying item stops at $25. A $12,000 qualifying sale carries $720 in state tax and $25 in surtax, $745 in all, against $780 at a flat 6.5%.
The Census Bureau estimated Cape Coral's population at 236,264 in July 2025, up 21.8% from April 2020. If you're weighing a card fee, Florida's Attorney General says merchants may add a disclosed surcharge to credit card purchases, and our Florida page explains the network limits. Contractors billing large jobs can send invoices and payment links from a virtual terminal. Our pricing is interchange-plus, there's no long-term contract, and a free statement review will show what each card costs you today.
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Common questions
Why is Cape Coral's sales tax lower than Tampa's?
Lee County levies one surtax, a 0.5% school capital outlay surtax, so its combined rate is 6.5%. Hillsborough County levies three half-cent surtaxes, for school capital outlay, indigent care and infrastructure, which brings Tampa to 7.5%. Our Tampa page covers Hillsborough's recent rate changes.
When is Lee County's school surtax set to end?
December 31, 2028, according to the Department of Revenue's 2018 notice and its current surtax form. Until then, plan on 6.5% for sales delivered in Lee County. The Department updates its DR-15DSS form every November, so check it before each new year in case the surtax is extended or changed.
How much tax goes on a $12,000 item sold in Cape Coral?
If it's one of the transactions where only the first $5,000 is subject to surtax, $745: $720 in state tax and $25 in Lee County surtax. Without that limit, it would be $780. Ask your accountant whether your products qualify before you set up your POS.
Can a Cape Coral contractor add a surcharge to a large credit card payment?
Florida's Attorney General says merchants may add a disclosed surcharge to credit card purchases. On an $8,000 job, a 3% surcharge is $240. Visa caps it at 3% and Mastercard at 4%, or your cost if lower, and debit and prepaid cards can't be surcharged. Our contractor processing guide covers other ways to bring the cost down.
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Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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