Pasco residents find themselves paying Hillsborough's new sales tax rate

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Some residents in Pasco County are finding themselves paying Hillsborough County’s higher sales tax rate.

A woman shopping at the Tommy Hilfiger at the Tampa Premium Outlets in Pasco noticed she paid 8.5 percent sales tax instead of Pasco's 7 percent.

“I think it’s a glitch based on the address,” said Mike Fasano, the Pasco County tax collector.

He says a handful of these discrepancies have been reported so far. 

They seem to be happening along the county border, places like Lutz and Odessa.  Both have addresses in both Hillsborough and Pasco counties. The outlets are also right on the border.

“Because it’s called Tampa Premium Outlet maybe they assume Tampa Hillsborough County, which is even more outrageous,” he said.

Hillsborough County voters approved a one and a half percent sales tax hike in November, it went into effect on January 1.

In another case, an Odessa resident found the cost of her car lease just went up. She leased the car from a dealership in Hillsborough County. However, when it comes to car leases, the consumer pays the sales tax rate for the county in which they live, not where the dealership is located.

Since this lease owner lives in Pasco County, she should be paying the Pasco County rate.

“I feel confident saying no one is doing it purposely but to me, it’s a bit lazy on the company's part,” Fasano said. 

To contact the Pasco County Tax Collector's Office about an issue, call 352-521-4338, 727-847-8032, or 813-235-6076, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. through 5 p.m.