Sarasota earns national credit for business tax-friendliness

SARASOTA — The city of Sarasota was recognized as one of the most tax-friendly cities in the United States in a report from Thumbtack.com, a local commerce firm.

Thumbtack, in the 2015 edition of its annual “Small Business Friendliness Survey," ranked Sarasota the seventh most tax-friendly city in the country.

The survey, which started in 2012, asked nearly 18,000 small business owners about their tax experiences. The tax-related questions on the survey included:
• How unfriendly or friendly is your state or local government with regard to the tax code and tax-related regulations?
• How difficult or easy is it to understand and file your business' taxes?
• Do you think you pay your fair share of taxes?

Each question created its own separate list. Sarasota and West Palm Beach were the two Florida cities on the most tax-friendly list. Grand Rapids, Mich. topped the most tax-friendly list.