OIG No. 25-09 Resort Tax Activities SummaryTO:
FROM:
PROJECT
PERIOD:
Joseph M.Centorino,Inspector General
June 5,2025
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
Joseph M.Centorino,Inspector General
Resort Tax Audit Activities Summary
October 1,2024,through March 31,2025
OIG No.24-09
In the City of Miami Beach Office of the Inspector General (OIG)Audit Division,there are Tax
Auditors responsible for ensuring that registered businesses comply with the City Code's
Resort Tax provisions.They conduct audits for both annual and monthly filers.Annual filers
are usually apartment buildings that owe resort taxes to the City only for residencies not
exceeding six months.Monthly filers include hotels,short-term rentals,nightclubs,bars,and
restaurants,which have daily transactions and are required to collect and remit resort taxes
to the City.Annual filers must file once per year for the period of May through April by May
20th (adjusted for weekends and holidays),while monthly filers must file each month prior to
or on the twentieth (adjusted for weekends and holidays)for the previous month's
transactions.The purpose of these audits is to verify if registered taxpayers have accurately
reported their revenues and paid any taxes owed on time.
An analysis of the Resort Tax Database showed that by the date of this report,there were
4,263 active Resort Tax accounts,comprised of 954 annual filers and 3,309 monthly filers.
The number of monthly accounts has increased significantly over the past several years due
primarily to short-term rentals.
Since annual filers are expected to remit little or no resort taxes,the OIG primarily focuses
on conducting audits of monthly filers.However,Tax Auditors also routinely conduct audits
of annual filers,with a primary focus on determining whether tested tenants meet the
residency requirement imposed by City Code Section 102-308(4)a.This requirement states
that there must be a continuous residency for longer than six months to be exempt from
taxation.
The assessment and estimated assessment figures presented in this report represent
amounts determined as of the date of this report.Some of these figures may vary depending
on subsequent appeals or the operator's submission of additional documentation or evidence.
In the event an operator files an appeal or provides new records or evidence,the assigned
Tax Auditor will review the information and adjust the assessment amounts as warranted.
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While the OIG determines the assessment based on its audit,it is not involved in the
subsequent collection process managed by the Finance Department.This process may result
in adjustments,settlements,or other resolutions involving different City processes and
agencies.This ensures proper segregation of duties between the department conducting the
audit and those responsible
for enforcing the assessment.
It is important to note that assessments are not always paid on time,which can lead the City
to place liens on properties owned by delinquent taxpayers or corporate officers.These liens
can remain in effect for up to twenty years.Any assessments collected as a result of OIG
audits contribute additional revenue to the City that would not have been received without
these audits.
In addition,City Code Section 102-311 (6)states as follows:If any operator charged in this
section fails or refuses to make his records available for inspection so that no audit or
examination has been made of the books and records of such operator or person,fails or
refuses to register as an operator,or fails to make a report and pay the tax as provided by
this division,or makes a grossly incorrect report,or makes a report that is false or
fraudulent,it shall be the duty of the city to make an assessment from an estimate based
upon the best information then available to it for the taxable period of sales or rentals,
together with interest,plus penalty,if such have accrued,as the case may be.Then the city
shall proceed to collect such taxes,interest and penalty on the basis of such assessment,
which shall be considered prima facie correct;and the burden to show the contrary shall
rest with the operator.
These estimated assessments are imposed when a taxpayer chooses not to cooperate after
multiple attempts or fails to maintain the necessary documentation for the audit.If the
taxpayer later provides adequate records,the assigned Tax Auditor will review the
information and adjust the assessment as needed.Conversely,some taxpayers either pay
the estimated assessments or do not respond,making the assessments final.
In total,the Tax Auditors completed 74 audits between October 1,2024,and March 31,2025,
resulting in net assessments of $1,777,490.07.The breakdown below provides more specific
details:
A.Annual Filers -22 audits completed with assessments totaling $42,934.17
•Four completed audits resulted in assessments totaling $42,934.17
•No estimated assessments were performed.
•Eighteen completed audits resulted in $0 assessments,as no material differences
were noted from the amounts reported and remitted.
B.Monthly Filers -52 audits completed with assessments totaling $1,734,555.90
•Thirty-one completed audits resulted in assessments totaling $1,428,024.88
•Three taxpayers did not provide the requested records,which resulted in estimated
assessments totaling $306,531.02
•Nineteen completed audits resulted in $0 assessments,as no material differences
were noted from the amounts reported and remitted.
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ditor
Date
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OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL,City of Miami Beach
1130 Washington Avenue,6 Floor,Miami Beach,FL 33139
Tel:305.673.7020 Fax:305.587.2401 •Hotline:786.897.1111
Email:CityofMiamiBeachOIG@miamibeachfl.gov
Website:www.mbinspectorgeneral.com
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