Free Florida General Bill of Sale
When you're selling something that doesn't come with a state title — power tools, a mower, a kayak under 16 feet, a pool table, business equipment, a piece of jewelry — Florida doesn't require any specific form or filing. A clean bill of sale is the entire transaction record, and for casual private sales, no sales tax applies under Florida's casual-sale exemption.
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A general bill of sale works for furniture, tools, equipment, or any personal property — but only if written correctly. Our step-by-step guide shows exactly what language to include so the document holds up if there is ever a dispute. Read: How to Write a Bill of Sale (Step-by-Step) →
Florida General Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Agency
N/A
No state agency required for non-titled personal property
Primary ID Field
Serial Number
Sales Tax
0.06%
Title Required
No
Florida only titles motor vehicles, mobile homes, vessels, and ATVs/UTVs. Everything else — equipment, furniture, electronics, livestock other than horses, jewelry, business inventory — transfers via bill of sale alone.
Inspection
Not required
Sales Tax Details
Florida 6% sales tax applies to most tangible personal property sold in the regular course of business. Casual/isolated private sales between individuals are generally NOT subject to sales tax (the casual sale exemption), with exceptions for motor vehicles, boats, aircraft, and mobile homes which are always taxed regardless of casual nature.
Exemption: Casual sale exemption applies to most one-off private transactions. Business inventory, equipment sold by a registered dealer, and the four exception categories above remain taxable.
Florida General Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Describe the item with enough specificity to identify it: make, model, serial number, color, condition, dimensions
- Include sale price, payment method (cash, check, Zelle, etc.), and date
- Both parties' full names, addresses, phone numbers, and signatures
- Mark the sale "AS-IS, WHERE-IS, with no warranties express or implied" unless you're explicitly providing one
- For items over $1,000 in value, consider notarization (not required, but adds weight if disputed)
- Each party keeps a signed original; photograph the item and the signed bill of sale together
- For cash transactions over $10,000, federal Form 8300 reporting may apply if part of a trade or business
Common Pitfalls
- No serial number or specific identifier — "a Stihl chainsaw" isn't enough; "Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss, S/N 184312958, 20-inch bar" is
- Missing the "as-is" language — without it, Florida's implied warranties (UCC for sales between merchants, common law for others) can attach
- Cash sale with no receipt or paper trail — buyer claims they paid more, or seller claims they were never paid; impossible to prove
- Selling stolen property unknowingly — for high-value items (firearms, jewelry, electronics, equipment), check serial numbers at LeadsOnline or with local PD
- Charging sales tax when the casual sale exemption applies — confuses the buyer and creates fake liability for the seller
- Failing to disclose known defects on big-ticket items — even with as-is language, fraud (concealing a known defect) remains actionable in FL
Pro Tip
Florida keeps general bill of sale rules simple — no form, no filing, no tax on casual private sales of non-titled property. The whole transaction lives or dies on the document itself. Be specific about the item, lock down "as-is" language, document payment, and keep a copy. That's the entire system for everything Florida doesn't separately title.
Florida General Bill of Sale — FAQs
Do I need to charge sales tax when I sell my used lawn mower or kayak privately?
No. Florida's casual sale exemption (Rule 12A-1.037) covers one-off private sales of tangible personal property between individuals not engaged in the business of selling that property. Selling your used mower, an old TV, a guitar, or a kayak under 16 feet to a neighbor is exempt. The exemption does NOT apply to: motor vehicles, vessels (boats requiring titling), mobile homes, or aircraft — those four categories are always taxed regardless of whether the seller is a dealer. It also doesn't apply if you're a serial seller (flipping items as a side business), in which case FL Department of Revenue may classify you as a dealer and require registration.
When should I notarize a Florida bill of sale?
Notarization is not legally required for any non-titled personal property in Florida — your signature alone makes the bill of sale binding. It becomes valuable in three situations: (1) high-value items where you might end up in court (over ~$5,000 in equipment, jewelry, art, etc.) and need to prove the buyer's signature was authentic, (2) sales involving out-of-state buyers whose home state requires notarized bills of sale for their own registration purposes, and (3) any time the buyer or seller specifically requests it for their own records. Florida notaries charge $10 maximum per signature by statute. For a $200 sale of patio furniture, skip it; for a $20,000 sale of business equipment, get it notarized.
Does an "as-is" clause really protect me from being sued later?
Mostly, yes. Florida courts enforce "as-is, where-is, with no warranties express or implied" language strongly in private-party sales. The buyer takes on all risk of unknown defects once that language is signed. The exception: if the seller actively concealed a known defect or affirmatively lied about a material condition, that's common-law fraud and the as-is clause won't protect you. Example: selling a generator "as-is" when you knew the engine had a cracked block but didn't disclose it — buyer can still sue for fraud despite the disclaimer. Honesty in disclosure plus as-is language is the combination that actually works.
What's the best way to handle payment so neither side gets burned?
For Florida private sales under $1,000, cash with a signed bill of sale handed over at the same time works fine. For $1,000-$5,000, prefer Zelle (instant, irreversible once cleared) or a cashier's check verified by calling the issuing bank directly (not the number on the check itself — that's the scammer's line). Above $5,000, meet at the buyer's bank and have them get a cashier's check while you wait, or use a wire transfer that posts before transfer. Avoid personal checks (can bounce a week later), Cash App and Venmo for high-value items (reversible by buyer), and any "I'll pay you the rest in two weeks" arrangement without collateral. The bill of sale should explicitly state payment method received in full at delivery.
Other Florida Templates
🚘Vehicle Bill of Sale🚗Car Bill of Sale🚙Used Car Bill of Sale🏍️Motorcycle Bill of Sale⛵Boat Bill of Sale🚛Trailer Bill of Sale🐴Horse Bill of Sale🏎️ATV Bill of Sale🔫Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale🏕️RV Bill of Sale🖨️Free Printable Bill of Sale📏Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale⚠️As-Is Bill of Sale🎁Gift Bill of Sale