12A-19.071. Department of Revenue Electronic Database

(1)(a) The Department maintains an electronic database that assigns service addresses to local taxing jurisdictions in a format that satisfies the requirements of Section 202.22(2)(a), F.S. The electronic database, referred to as Florida’s Address/Jurisdiction Database, is maintained on the Department’s website at pointmatch.floridarevenue.com. An updated Address/Jurisdiction Database is posted to the Department’s website 90 days prior to adoption of the Address/Jurisdiction Database. The updated Address/Jurisdiction Database is adopted and becomes effective every January 1 or July 1. References to the effective Address/Jurisdiction Database refer to the official database that is available on the website and conclusive for purposes of communications services tax, which was adopted the previous January 1 or July 1. The effective Address/Jurisdiction Database does not include the information contained in the pending files described in paragraph (b).

(b) When a change to the Address/Jurisdiction Database has been approved, the approved pending address additions and approved pending address deletions are stored in separate files until they are included in the next scheduled update of the database. These pending files include corrections of any errors discovered since the last preceding update, as well as changes in addresses or jurisdictional boundaries, that are based on information provided by local taxing jurisdictions and have been approved by the Department. These pending files contain the most recent local taxing jurisdictional assignment information. The individual address lookup feature searches the current database and the pending files and may reflect information that has not yet been incorporated into the database available for downloading and use by local taxing jurisdictions and insurers. Dealers may use the pending files to update their service address assignments between the January 1 and July 1 effective dates of the Address/Jurisdiction Database even though such use of the pending files is not required to satisfy due diligence requirements. In such cases, the individual address lookup page carries a statement notifying the viewer that it reflects a pending change to the database.

(c) Registered local taxing jurisdictions and communications services dealers have the capability of downloading databases of addresses assigned to each local taxing jurisdiction. A file of addresses in the format adopted by the Federation of Tax Administrators and the Multistate Tax Commission in accordance with the federal Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act is available.

(d) The Department’s website also has a single address lookup feature that permits any person to enter an address and ascertain to which local jurisdiction it is assigned. The individual address lookup feature searches the pending files, as well as the effective database, and may therefore reflect information that has not yet been incorporated into the effective database. In such cases, the individual address lookup page carries a statement notifying the viewer that it reflects a pending change to the database.

(e) The availability and effective date of the updated Address/Jurisdiction Database are announced in the Florida Administrative Register. Updates incorporate corrections of any errors discovered since the last preceding update, as well as changes in addresses or jurisdictional boundaries based on information provided by local taxing jurisdictions. Each update of the Address/Jurisdiction Database is posted on the Department’s website at least 90 days prior to adoption and is also available to dealers of communications services, vendors of databases, and other persons authorized to download the database.

(f) To fulfill its statutory responsibility to maintain the database, when the Department notices apparent errors, such as an address that is assigned to multiple jurisdictions, the Department will initiate an objection to the database in accordance with the provisions of subsection (3) and will process the objection in the same manner in which other objections are processed.

(2)(a) Local taxing jurisdictions have a continuing obligation to provide the Department with information to update the Address/Jurisdiction Database, such as changes in service addresses or address ranges, annexations, incorporations, reorganizations, and any other changes to jurisdictional boundaries. Local taxing jurisdictions must inform the Department of the identity of the jurisdictions’ officers or employees who are authorized to act as contact persons with the Department on database matters. Local taxing jurisdictions are limited to two authorized contact persons; however, local taxing jurisdictions may provide updated contact person information as frequently as necessary to ensure that the appropriate contact person can be reached by the Department to administer database matters. The contact list of authorized local government contact persons for all local taxing jurisdictions is located on the Department’s website and is available to those persons who have local government access.

(b) Local taxing jurisdictions must submit information requesting changes to the Address/Jurisdiction Database electronically, using instructions in Form DR-700002, User’s Guide for the Address/Jurisdiction Database (hereby incorporated by reference, effective 08/20, http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13414), copies of this form can be downloaded from the Department’s website at floridarevenue.com/forms. Authorized local jurisdiction contact persons may access the login screen for registered users at pointmatch.floridarevenue.com. Local taxing jurisdictions that do not have access to computers with Internet access should contact the Department to request authorization to submit changes through alternative electronic media. The information must also be submitted on Form DR-700022, Notification of Changes to the Address/Jurisdiction Database (incorporated by reference in Rule 12A-19.100, F.A.C.).

(c) The local taxing jurisdiction must specify the effective date of any information to be incorporated in the Address/Jurisdiction Database. The effective date must be the next January 1 or July 1 after the date of submission of the information to the Department. Changes must be submitted no later than the date that is 120 days prior to the January 1 or July 1 on which changes are to be effective. The Department will review the information provided in the requests for change and store the approved changes in the approved pending files. Local governments, including special fire districts, should not submit changes during the periods September 4 to October 3 and March 4 to April 2. The Department completes its review of pending submissions for the next database update during these periods and is unable to process new submissions. Submissions of information initiated during these time periods will be denied, and a new submission will be necessary.

(d)1. Any requested changes or additions to the Address/Jurisdiction Database must be supported by competent evidence. Competent evidence to support a change to the Address/Jurisdiction Database is documentation establishing that the service addresses affected by the requested change or addition are located in the local taxing jurisdiction indicated on the request. Examples of competent evidence include annexation ordinances, articles of incorporation of a new municipality, the plat filed for a newly approved subdivision, or the enhanced 911 Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) database information relating to local law enforcement responders issued by the local jurisdiction coordinator’s office. Competent evidence must clearly designate the service addresses or address ranges that are affected.

2. If a requested change is to move an address from one local taxing jurisdiction to another, competent evidence includes the consent of the local taxing jurisdiction that did not request the change. To facilitate processing of the change, the local taxing jurisdiction requesting the change should attempt to obtain written consent to the change from an authorized contact person of the non-requesting jurisdiction. Form DR-700022 contains an authorization statement that will serve as the written consent of the non-requesting local taxing jurisdiction when signed by that jurisdiction’s authorized contact person. The Department will consider the receipt of a Form DR-700022 containing the signatures of the authorized contact persons of both the initiating and affected jurisdictions to be sufficient competent evidence. In such instances, the Department will make the change based upon the representations on the form. A local taxing jurisdiction that objects to the change should use Form DR-700022 to change the address information and, unless the affected local taxing jurisdiction signs the form, the Department will treat the request as one that must be resolved by the local taxing jurisdictions involved as provided in this paragraph. Identification of the case number associated with the address changes is insufficient by itself to demonstrate competent evidence establishing that the service addresses are located in the local taxing jurisdiction indicated on the request.

3. If the requesting jurisdiction has not obtained the written consent of the non-requesting jurisdiction, the Department will contact the non-requesting jurisdiction before making the change. Based upon the response of the non-requesting jurisdiction, the Department will take the following action in regard to the requested change:

a. If the non-requesting jurisdiction consents in writing, the Department will accept and process the change.

b. If the non-requesting jurisdiction objects in writing, the Department will treat the requested change as one that must be resolved by the local taxing jurisdictions involved as provided in subsection (3).

c. If the non-requesting jurisdiction fails to either consent or object in writing within 20 days after the date on which the Department notified that jurisdiction of the requested change, the Department will accept and process the change. This will not preclude the non-requesting jurisdiction from subsequently submitting requests to change the new address assignments after they have been processed.

4. If a requested change affects only the requesting local taxing jurisdiction and does not affect another local taxing jurisdiction, the Department will consider receipt of an affidavit signed by the authorized contact person for that local taxing jurisdiction that identifies the addresses or address ranges and states that the change affects only the requesting local taxing jurisdiction to be sufficient competent evidence. The use of an affidavit is not required but, at the option of the requesting local taxing jurisdiction, may be used in lieu of providing other documentation such as subdivision plats. In such instances, the Department will make the change based upon the representations on the form and the affidavit. A local taxing jurisdiction that objects to the change should use Form DR-700022 to change the address information and, unless the affected local taxing jurisdiction signs the form, the Department will treat the request as one that must be resolved by the local taxing jurisdictions involved as provided in subsection (3).

(e) Examples.

1. A local taxing jurisdiction approves the plat and grants the permits necessary for development of a new subdivision on February 1, 2005. The plat indicates street names but no address numbers have yet been assigned. In order for the addresses to be added to the electronic database effective the following July 1, the local taxing jurisdiction must file Form DR-700022 with a copy of the approved subdivision plat or an affidavit indicating that the change affects only the requesting local taxing jurisdiction and submit on-line address change information by March 3, 2005. If that deadline is not met, the earliest date on which the new service addresses can be added to the database is January 1, 2006. In order to meet the deadline and be certain that the actual address numbers are included, the contact person for the local taxing jurisdiction may request the addition of a range of numbers that is certain to include the actual numbers. Because the development of the subdivision affects only the requesting jurisdiction, no consent from any other jurisdiction is required.

2. A municipality annexes an area with 1500 service addresses that was formerly in an unincorporated area of the county. The annexation is effective July 1, 2004. The municipality’s database contact person timely enters address change requests for 1525 addresses on-line and files a Form DR-700022 on March 2, 2004. Included with the form are a copy of the annexation ordinance and a map with the annexed area outlined with street address ranges included in the annexed area noted. The county database contact person has not signed the Form DR-700022 or otherwise given written consent to the changes. On March 5, 2004, the Department notifies the county of the requested changes and provides copies of the municipality’s Form DR-700022, annexation ordinance, and map. The county does not respond with written consent or a written objection. On March 26, 2004, the Department processes the changes, and they are included in an update posted on April 2, 2004, to take effect July 1, 2004. The county’s database contact person notifies the Department on July 15, 2004, that the county believes the database now incorrectly assigns 25 service addresses to the municipality. The county should submit Form DR-700022 to move the addresses from the municipality to the county. The Department will handle this as a change to the database.

3. A municipality annexes an area with 1500 service addresses that was formerly in an unincorporated area of the county. The annexation is effective July 1, 2004. The municipality’s contact person timely enters address change requests for the 1500 addresses on-line and writes a letter to the county’s contact person requesting that consent be indicated by signing a Form DR-700022 that has been prepared by the municipality and enclosed with the letter. Also enclosed with the letter is a copy of the annexation ordinance and a street map on which the annexed area is outlined. The county contact person signs the Form DR-700022. The municipality submits the form to the Department on February 15, 2004. The Department will approve the changes and include them in the July 1, 2004 update to the Address/Jurisdiction Database.

(3)(a) Any substantially affected party may object to information contained in the Address/Jurisdiction Database by submitting Form DR-700025 Objection to Address Assignment in the Adress/Jurisdiction Database (incorporated by reference in Rule 12A-19.100, F.A.C.), along with competent evidence to support the party’s objection. Only objections to the effective Address/Jurisdiction Database can be considered; those objections that are not objections to the effective Address/Jurisdiction Database will be denied. Before submitting an objection, a person should check the effective Address/Jurisdiction Database to determine whether the contemplated objection is necessary. Examples of substantially affected parties include purchasers of communications services who pay local communications services taxes, dealers who are required to collect local communications services taxes, the Department of Revenue, and local taxing jurisdictions. However, local taxing jurisdictions should use Form DR-700022 to create addresses in the Address/Jurisdiction Database or to request address assignment changes. Regardless of which form is used to request changes to the Address/Jurisdiction Database, the consent of all affected jurisdictions will be required.

(b) Multiple address submissions affecting multiple jurisdictions should be segregated, based on the specific combinations of the affected jurisdictions, in a manner that segregates the changes from City A to City B from the changes from City B to City A.

(c) In the event that a dealer that is required to collect local communications services tax elects to formally object to information contained in the Address/Jurisdiction Database, the dealer must file Form DR-700025. If the dealer’s objection is to the assignment of multiple addresses or address ranges, the dealer should electronically submit the addresses in the format used to apply for certification of databases by following the on-line Instructions for Preparing and Submitting Customer Address Files for Certification Testing, as provided in paragraph (2)(a) of Rule 12A-19.072, F.A.C. In the event that the dealer is unable to submit its objection on-line, the dealer should contact the Department to request authorization to submit changes through alternative electronic media. This rule is not intended to interfere with any procedures implemented by dealers to inform local taxing jurisdictions of errors in the Address/Jurisdiction Database.

(d) Examples of competent evidence that support an inquiry into a substantially affected party’s objection include a voter registration card indicating the voter residing at a service address is entitled to vote in municipal elections or only in county elections, the enhanced 911 MSAG database, or a map that includes the boundaries of a local taxing jurisdiction and clearly places a service address inside or outside those boundaries. For example, if a map shows that a street is entirely within the boundaries of a municipality, that map is competent evidence that a service address on that street should be assigned to that municipality in the database. The Department will notify the substantially affected party of any deficiencies in the objection or competent evidence.

(e) When the Department believes that addresses or address ranges have been assigned to an incorrect local taxing jurisdiction, the Department will initiate the change by using Form DR-700025. The Department will use any information at its disposal, including enhanced 911 Master Street Address Guide database address information and information supplied by any dealer, as a basis for initiating an objection; however, in no event, will the Department change any address assignment without providing notice to the affected jurisdictions in the manner provided in paragraph (3)(f). If the change is approved, it would be included in the pending files with other approved changes for inclusion in the next update of the database.

(f) Upon receipt of an objection on a completed Form DR-700025, including competent evidence to support the objection, the Department will forward copies of the form, along with the associated documentation, to the database contact person in each affected taxing jurisdiction. The Department will provide to the affected local taxing jurisdictions Form DR-700026, Local Government Authorization for Address Changes Described on Form DR-700025 (incorporated by reference in Rule 12A-19.100, F.A.C.), to use to agree, disagree, or partially agree with the address jurisdiction changes proposed by the attached completed Form DR-700025. The Department will provide to the affected local taxing jurisdiction Form DR-700027, Local Government Authorization for Omission of Address or Incorrect Address Identification (incorporated by reference in Rule 12A-19.100, F.A.C.), to use to agree or disagree with the inclusion of a service address or address range or with changing non-jurisdictional information about a service address or address range proposed by the attached completed Form DR-700025. In case the forms become separated, the Department will include on the bottom portion of each form the same tracking number and date to identify which forms belong together. The Department will, when practicable, provide the information electronically for review by the local taxing jurisdictions. These forms will not be sent to the local taxing jurisdictions between February 1 and April 2 nor between August 4 and October 3 due to the inability of local taxing jurisdictions to make on-line changes during the updating and posting of the next effective Address/Jurisdiction Database. The local taxing jurisdictions should review the specific address(es) at issue as well as the address range(s) that will be impacted by the change to ensure that each local taxing jurisdiction retains all of the addresses that it believes are within its jurisdictional boundaries. The Department will instruct each local taxing jurisdiction to indicate in writing its determination in regard to the objection by completing the provided authorization form, either Form DR-700026 or Form DR-700027, and filing the form with the Department. If the affected local taxing jurisdictions both indicate agreement with the objection, the Department will revise the electronic database accordingly. If a local taxing jurisdiction fails to respond within a reasonable time, which shall be no less than 30 days, such jurisdiction shall be deemed to have indicated agreement with the objection. If either local taxing jurisdiction notifies the Department in writing that it does not agree with the objection, the Department will not change the address in the database. The service address will be reassigned to a local taxing jurisdiction when one of the following events occurs:

1. The Department receives written notification from the local taxing jurisdiction that did not agree with the change requested in the objection that such local taxing jurisdiction has subsequently determined that the change should be made;

2. The Department receives written notification from the party that filed the Form DR-700025 that the objection was erroneous and the assignment in the database was correct; or

3. The Department is provided with a copy of a final order, judgment, or other binding written determination resolving the jurisdictional assignment of the contested address.

(g) No communications services provider who relies on the assignment of a service address in the effective Address/Jurisdiction Database will be held liable for any additional local communications services tax, interest, or penalty in regard to that service address if the assignment is later determined to be erroneous under this subsection. All requests by a purchaser for a refund or credit must comply with the requirements of Section 202.23, F.S. When a substantially affected person files an objection to the Address/Jurisdiction Database no later than August 3 for an assignment that became effective on July 1 or no later than February 1 for an assignment that became effective on January 1 that is approved, the substantially affected person’s local taxing jurisdiction will be changed in the effective Address/Jurisdiction Database. Such a person would be entitled to a refund or credit of any local communications services taxes overcollected during the period of time that the incorrect assignment occurred in accordance with the documentation provided by the Department demonstrating approval of the objection and the date from which the change to the Address/Jurisdiction Database is effective, as long as the claim for refund or credit complies with the provisions of Section 202.23, F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 202.26(3)(b), (g) FS. Law Implemented 202.22(2), 202.23 FS. History–New 11-14-05, Amended 12-20-07, 6-28-10, 1-20-14, 1-20-15, 7-8-19, 8-15-21.