Raw Seafood Tax

Raw Seafood Tax

A raw seafood product sales tax is levied on all raw seafood product sales made in the City for the purpose of processing, reselling, storing, transshipping, or consumption for profit at the rate of 2% of the primary gross sales value.  The tax levied is an obligation of the seller and collected by the buyer.

Raw Seafood Product Tax Collection

Monthly taxes collected must be paid to the City by the 15th of the month following the calendar month in which the taxes were collected. To qualify for the compensatory collection discount, payments must be paid or postmarked by the 15th of each month.  If a collector fails or is late in filing returns for three or more months, the City Clerk may require the collector to submit returns and payment on a weekly basis.

A collector of raw seafood sales tax will be paid an amount equal to 2% of the gross raw seafood sales tax collected, provided the tax return is filed and the tax is paid to the City on or before the 15th of each month immediately following the month in which the collection is made.

A collector that has filed a tax return will be presumed to be purchasing raw seafood product in successive months unless that collector files a return showing termination or sale of the business.

Reports must be made using forms furnished by the City and available at City Hall. 

Penalty and Interest

The penalty equal to 5% of the delinquent tax will be added to the tax for the first month, or any part thereof, and an additional 5% shall be added to the tax due for each month, or fraction thereof, of delinquency until a total penalty of 15% of the tax due is accrued.  The penalty will be assessed and collected in the same manner as the tax is assessed and collected.

In addition to the penalty, interest assessed on delinquent taxes will accrue at the rate of 10% per year.  Interest accrues from the date of delinquency until paid in full and is collected in the same manner as the delinquent tax is collected.