Credit card processing and merchant services in Orlando, FL
Orange County's 6.5% sales tax is lower than Osceola's or Seminole's, but deliveries there carry their rates. Ticket sellers and short-term rentals also have an FTC pricing rule to follow.
Orlando's sales tax is 6.5%, tied with Cape Coral for the lowest among the Florida cities we cover: the state's 6% plus Orange County's half-cent school capital outlay surtax, which now runs through 2035. That rate only holds for sales delivered inside Orange County. Florida applies the surtax of the county where an item is delivered, so an order your Orlando store delivers into Osceola County is taxed at 7.5%, and one delivered into Seminole County at 7%.
Hospitality is a big business here. Accommodation and food service businesses in the city had $4.1 billion in sales in 2022, according to the Economic Census, and lodging in Orange County is taxed at 12.5% once the county's 6% tourist development tax is added. The county has run that tax itself since January 1992.
If you sell event tickets or short-term stays, a federal rule applies as well. The FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, 2025, covers live-event tickets and short-term lodging, and requires those businesses to show the total price with mandatory fees included. A card fee on top of that needs thought. Florida's Attorney General says merchants may add a disclosed credit card surcharge, but get advice on how it fits the prices you advertise.
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Rules that matter in Orlando
Deliveries into neighboring counties
Florida applies the surtax of the county where a taxable item or service is delivered. The Department of Revenue lists Osceola County's combined rate at 7.5% and Seminole County's at 7%, against Orange County's 6.5%.
Set your POS and online checkout to calculate tax from the delivery address, not your store's.
Sources: Florida Department of Revenue, Florida sales and use tax; Florida Department of Revenue, History of local sales tax and current rates (updated February 1, 2026, PDF)
Live-event tickets and short-term lodging
The FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, in effect since May 12, 2025, covers businesses that sell live-event tickets or short-term lodging and requires the total price, including mandatory fees, to be shown up front. If you sell either one, get advice on how any card fee fits your advertised prices.
Source: FTC, Rule on unfair or deceptive fees takes effect May 12, 2025
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Common questions
What sales tax does an Orlando business charge?
6.5% on most taxable sales delivered in Orange County: Florida's 6% plus a 0.5% school capital outlay surtax that runs through 2035. Short-term lodging carries 12.5% with the county's 6% tourist development tax.
What rate applies when I deliver to a customer in Osceola or Seminole County?
That county's rate. Florida applies the surtax of the county where the item is delivered, so Osceola deliveries are taxed at 7.5% and Seminole deliveries at 7%. The Department of Revenue's address lookup shows the county and surtax rate for any Florida address.
Does the FTC fee rule apply to my Orlando business?
Only if you sell live-event tickets or short-term lodging. For those businesses, the FTC's rule, in effect since May 12, 2025, requires the total price, including mandatory fees, to be shown up front. Restaurants and shops aren't covered by it, though the Florida Attorney General's warning about undisclosed fees applies to every merchant.
Can an Orlando business add a credit card surcharge?
Yes, according to Florida's Attorney General, who says the state's surcharge ban was held unconstitutional. Keep it within the card network caps of 3% for Visa and 4% for Mastercard, or your cost if lower, disclose it before the sale, print it on the receipt, and never apply it to debit or prepaid cards.
Who collects Orange County's tourist development tax?
Orange County administers it locally and has since January 1, 1992. The rate has been 6% since September 1, 2006. The state sales tax and the county's school surtax go to the Florida Department of Revenue.
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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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