Florida Bond of Citrus Fruit Dealer to Guarantee Payment of Citrus Excise Assessments

The Florida Bond of Citrus Fruit Dealer to Guarantee Payment of Citrus Excise Assessments is required by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Fruit and Vegetables. The bond is required to help account for all such Citrus Excise Taxes in the state of Florida. This is a type of surety bond.

How can I get a Citrus Fruit Dealer’s License?

A citrus fruit dealer license is required for anyone who attempts to make profit off of Florida citrus (other than by selling FL citrus directly to the consumer and not for resale). Dealers of non-citrus fruits have a separate license, a Florida Agricultural Products Dealer License.

In addition to the Florida Citrus Fruit Dealer’s License Application, the applicant must submit the following to the Florida Department of Citrus:

• A $25 licensing fee
• A Florida Citrus Fruit Dealer’s Bond
• A Florida Assessment Fee Bond
• A Florida Inspection Fee Bond
• A background check
• References
• Company information
• Work history

For more information regarding this licensing process, please visit the FDACS website as well as the Florida Department of Citrus’ website.

What is the amount of the surety bond? 

The bond amount for this particular bond will depend on your excise taxes. Follow these steps to calculate your bond amount:

1. Multiply the number of boxes utilized in the prior season or estimated utilization during the current season, whichever is greater, times the current tax rate for each variety to determine the total estimated tax.
2. Divide the total estimated tax by the number of weeks for which tax returns were required to be filed during the previous season to determine the estimated weekly tax due.
3. Multiply the estimated weekly tax due times two to determine the amount of bond required.

This bond also has a set effective and renewal date of August 1st.

You can read more about assessment calculations on the FL Department of Citrus’ website.

Where can I get a Florida Bond of Citrus Fruit Dealer to Guarantee Payment of Citrus Excise Assessments?

At Surety1.com we make it easy to obtain this surety bond. Our simple, three step process is:

1. Complete the easy to navigate and secure online application. ¹
2. Review the free, no obligation quote from one of Surety1’s professional surety bond agents, usually within one business day.
3. Sign some paperwork and pay the bond premium

Once these steps have been completed, the Florida Bond of Citrus Fruit Dealer will be shipped to the bond applicant.
^{1 -The name of the applicant on the surety bond application must match exactly the full legal business name of applicant for the license.} 

Surety1.com is a service of AssuredPartners one of the largest and fastest growing insurance agencies in the nation. Representing over a dozen surety bond companies, Surety1.com is the premier online provider of surety bonds nationwide since 2003.

What happens at renewal?

As this bond has a set expiration date of July 31st, you will need to renew your bond if you want to maintain your license. Approximately two months prior to this expiration, our renewal agents will send you an invoice to renew your bond. Once the renewal payment is processed we will send you either a Continuation Certificate or a Renewal Bond (same bond but with new dates) to submit to the state.

Surety1.com is a service of AssuredPartners one of the largest and fastest growing insurance agencies in the nation. Surety1.com is the premier online provider of surety bonds nationwide since 2003.