Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez Revokes Local Business Tax Receipts After Federal Agency Identifies Vessel Doing Business With Cuba Without Authorization

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez announced today that his office has revoked Local Business Tax Receipts of businesses that carried out unauthorized business transactions or activities involving Cuba. 

The action follows information the Tax Collector’s Office received from a federal agency indicating that Cargo Caribe LLC, using a shipping terminal operated by Harkham Shipping LLC and MV Tinto Shipping LTD, exported cement to Cuba without proper authorization and in violation of federal laws and regulations. According to the federal agency, the vessel traveled from the Miami River to a port in Mariel, Cuba, where the cargo was offloaded. After reviewing the information provided and additional records, the Tax Collector’s Office revoked the Local Business Tax Receipts associated with the businesses identified by federal authorities.

Under state and local law, the Tax Collector’s Office may revoke or refuse to renew a Local Business Tax Receipt of a business that engages in commerce with Cuba in violation of federal law. “Miami-Dade County will not be used as a base of operations for businesses that break the law, bypass federal requirements, or engage in unauthorized commerce connected to the Cuban communist dictatorship,” said Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez. “When credible information is brought to our office, we will act. We will follow the law. And we will use every lawful tool available to protect the integrity of our local business system.”

“This is about the rule of law,” said Fernandez. “It is about protecting honest businesses that follow the rules and making clear that companies connected to fraud or unlawful commercial activity will not receive a free pass in Miami-Dade County. Businesses that operate legally have nothing to fear,” Fernandez said. “But businesses that lie, evade the law, ignore compliance requirements, or engage in unauthorized commerce connected to the Cuban communist dictatorship should understand that there will be consequences.”

The Tax Collector’s Office has notified the City of Miami of the action and will continue coordinating with federal, state, and local partners as part of its ongoing compliance review.