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It’s been said the two things we can count on in life are death and taxes. Some lawmakers want to make sure there’s no more payments after your time is up.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be hard enough. The last thing people want to get hit with is a tax. Some people in the state have to pay a little extra to be cremated. 

 “Not all counties, but some counties, have begun to charge a fee for this service,” said Rep. Ross Spano. 

Almost two thirds of Florida’s counties charge a county service fee for cremation. Spano introduced the bill after dealing with families going through the extra costs during estate and probate court.

“The thinking was we pay lots of fees and surcharges and taxes in our lifetime, maybe it’s a good idea at death not to charge that fee,” said Spano.

The county service fee isn’t charged for traditional burials. The bills supporters hope that this puts an end to taxes after death.

“The taxman shouldn’t be dancing on the graves of those who have died simply to exact another fee after they’re dead,” said Florida Funeral and Cemeteries Advocate James Wylie. 

The cremation service fee varies from nothing to more than $60. Counties using the system would have made about $4 million dollars on the tax if they used it on every person that passed in 2012. Spano says the loss of revenue can be offset by an online death certificate system. 

“We created a system statewide that allows counties to use that system. So they’ve incurred tremendous administrative savings,” said Spano.

The legislation was approved unanimously at its first committee. It has two more to go before heading to the floor.