Hello all, I have a space with Regus and before that with Office Suites Plus (OSP). It includes phone services, mailbox services and 16 hours a month of virtual office space. For the most part, I don't use the office space, but every once in a while I use it. Anyway, they invoice me every month and they don't charge sales tax. It's just the monthly fee plus the cost of the postage to send me anything. It's a yearly contract that I've been renewing since 2009.
How I'm being audited by the State of Florida from 2011 to 2013 they are saying that I should have been charged taxes on the rent of my office. I sent them copies of all of Regus' and OSP invoices which do not include taxes. The state says I now have to pay them sales tax for the 3 years worth of taxes which I was not charged by Regus and OSP. I called Regus and OSP and they both say they don't charge any customer, worldwide, of which there are thousands, taxes on any of their virtual office packages. They only charge tax if you have a permanent office space there. But they consider their virtual office packages to be a service. Most customers never even use the 16 hours of space they are entitled to and if they do, they are given any space Regus or OSP have available. If they have no space available on the day you want, then you don't get office space.
Thoughts on this?? How do I get out of paying this tax?? My accountant is also quite confused and is researching as well!
Thanks!!