Credit card processing and merchant services in St. Petersburg, FL
Pinellas County adds a single 1% surtax to Florida's 6%, listed through 2029. Deliver across the bay into Hillsborough and the rate changes, because Florida taxes by the delivery county.
St. Petersburg's sales tax is 7% on most sales: Florida's 6% plus a 1% Pinellas County surtax. The Department of Revenue's local rate history shows that surtax extended through December 31, 2029. You won't need to touch your POS for it this year, but put the date in your calendar.
Deliveries are where St. Petersburg businesses slip up. Florida applies the surtax of the county where the item or service is delivered, so a delivery across the bay to a customer in Hillsborough County carries 7.5%, not 7%. Hillsborough's rate has moved several times since 2021, and our Tampa page has the history. Your checkout needs the delivery address, not just your store's.
Short-term rentals bring in a county tax. The Department's transient rental tax chart lists Pinellas County's tourist development tax at 6%, collected by the county itself. You pay that 6% to Pinellas, while the state's 6% and the 1% surtax on the rental go on your Florida sales tax return, on the transient rentals line. The chart warns that counties collecting their own tax don't have to tell the Department when the rate changes, so confirm it with the county.
The Census Bureau's July 2025 estimate put St. Petersburg at 264,033 residents. On card fees, Florida's Attorney General says the state's surcharge ban was struck down, so a disclosed credit card surcharge is allowed within Visa's and Mastercard's caps, and our Florida page covers the conditions. Before you add one, see what interchange-plus pricing would save you. A free statement review gives you the number.
Rules that matter in St. Petersburg
Tourist development tax on short-term rentals
The Department of Revenue's transient rental tax chart lists Pinellas County's tourist development tax at 6% and shows the county collecting it. For county-collected taxes, the tourist development tax is reported and paid to the county, while the 6% state sales tax and any surtax on the rental are reported to the Department on Form DR-15.
The chart notes that self-administering counties aren't required to tell the Department about rate changes, so its rates may not be current. Check with Pinellas County.
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Common questions
When does the Pinellas County surtax end?
The Department of Revenue lists Pinellas County's 1% surtax through December 31, 2029. Until then, most taxable sales in St. Petersburg carry 7%: Florida's 6% plus the county's 1%. The Department's DR-15DSS form, updated each November, lists every county's current surtax, so check it before each new year.
Which rate do I charge on a delivery from St. Petersburg to Tampa?
Hillsborough County's rate, which is 7.5%. Florida applies the surtax of the county where the item or service is delivered, so a delivery into Hillsborough carries 1.5% in county surtax instead of Pinellas's 1%. Set your POS or online checkout to tax by the delivery address.
Who collects the tourist development tax on a St. Petersburg vacation rental?
Pinellas County. The Department of Revenue's chart lists the county's tourist development tax at 6%, collected by the county, so you file that with Pinellas. The 6% state sales tax and the 1% surtax on the rental go to the Department on your sales and use tax return. Confirm the current county rate before you set up bookings.
Can a St. Petersburg restaurant add a credit card surcharge to the check?
Yes, according to Florida's Attorney General, as long as it's disclosed; the AG warns that undisclosed fees may be an unfair or deceptive trade practice. Keep it within Visa's 3% and Mastercard's 4% caps, or your cost if lower, and leave debit cards out. On a $90 check, a 3% surcharge is $2.70.
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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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