The county Tax Collector announced the issuance of new compliance notices to companies with possible commercial ties to the Cuban regime and warned that controls will be strengthened to guarantee respect for state and federal laws.
MADRID, Spain.- Miami-Dade County Tax Collector, Dariel Fernández, advertisement the issuance of additional compliance notices directed at businesses whose activities could involve illegal trade with the Cuban regime. The move is part of an ongoing review to verify that all businesses operating in the county are in compliance with state law, local code and required federal authorizations.
“Miami-Dade will not be used as a platform to finance or sustain a dictatorship that oppresses its people,” Fernández said in a Facebook post, stressing that his office will continue to enforce these requirements “firmly, responsibly and without exceptions.”
In an official statement released by his office on January 15 and shared in the publication, it was stated that the review process began weeks ago and aims to verify that businesses have the necessary documentation to possess or renew the Local Tax for Businesses (Business Tax Receipt). In this new phase, 50 additional compliance notices were issued to companies whose operations could be related to transactions with the Cuban government.
The notices request information to determine whether businesses are eligible to operate legally in the county, including verification that they have the appropriate federal authorizations. According to the document, this action follows up on a previous stage in which 75 businesses were contacted: some provided evidence of legal activity or of not maintaining commercial ties with the Cuban regime, while others did not respond despite repeated notifications, which gave rise to actions in accordance with the law.
The Collector’s office warned that notices are mandatory and that failure to respond or failure to demonstrate eligibility may result in enforcement action, including revocation or refusal to renew the operating permit. The legal basis for these actions is based on Section 205.0532 of the Florida Statutes and Ordinance 93-45 of the Miami-Dade County Code, which authorize local authorities to deny or withdraw licenses to entities that maintain commercial relations with the Cuban government in violation of federal law.
Fernández stated that, as Tax Collector, he will proceed to revoke the licenses of those businesses that illegally participate in commerce with the Havana regime and reiterated that the county “will not allow them to operate outside the framework of the law.”
This initiative is part of a line of public action of the official against any structure that, from the United States, can provide economic resources to the Cuban government. In recent months, Fernández has held meetings with representatives of the US Government to address control and compliance mechanisms, and has supported investigations into companies authorized to send remittances or provide services to the island, in a context of greater scrutiny over possible violations of federal sanctions.
Fernández, of Cuban origin, has consolidated in recent months a public profile marked by his critical stance towards the Havana regime and by his emphasis on strict compliance with state and federal laws regarding sanctions and commercial activity. Since his position, he has promoted audits and reviews aimed at ensuring that companies operating in the county do not maintain economic ties that could contravene US regulations on relations with the Cuban government.
In this context, recently He had a meeting in Miami with Mike Hammerchargé d’affaires of the United States Embassy for Cuba, in which they addressed the political and diplomatic support for the Cuban people and the need to strengthen control mechanisms against possible commercial operations that benefit the state apparatus of the island.
