Florida’s month-long Back to School Sales Tax Holiday begins today.

The discount holiday, first offered as a seven-day period in 1998 when sales taxes were lifted on only certain clothing valued $50 or less, was firmly put into state statutes last year as a recurring event to run throughout August.

Previously, the discount period was annually approved at varying lengths from three to 14-days, and some years, most recently 2009, the holiday wasn’t offered.

For this year, lawmakers moved the discount dates to July 20 through August 20.

The retail lobbying organization credits the change of dates with helping consumers facing affordability issues tie in the state holiday with annual back-to-school discounts offered by businesses.

During the upcoming holiday, sales taxes will be lifted on select clothes priced $100 or less, school supplies $50 or less, learning aids $30 or less, and personal computers and accessories priced $1,500 or less.

Legislative staff this year didn’t estimate the savings when the tax package was introduced in the regular session and later revived and approved in the special session in May.

In 2025, with the same discount benchmarks, legislative economists projected the savings would hit around $217 million.

The next tax holiday offered under the tax package (HB 7031E) is on hunting, fishing and camping equipment, beginning September 1 and continuing until the end of the year.

Legislative staff projected that discount period will cut revenue to the state by $31.2 million and local governments collectively by $8.8 million.

July 20-August 20 back-to-school “holiday” savings:

Exempt clothing valued at $100 or less:

Aerobic and fitness clothing
Aprons and clothing shields
Athletic supporters
Backpacks and book bags
Bandanas
Baseball cleats
Bathing suits, caps, and cover-ups
Belts
Bibs
Blouses
Non-ski or fishing boots
Bowling shoes
Bras
Cleated and spiked shoes
Coats
Coin purses
Dresses
Fanny packs
Graduation caps and gowns
Gym suits and uniforms
Hosiery and pantyhose (including support hosiery)
Hunting vests
Jackets
Jeans
Lab coats
Leggings, tights, and leg warmers
Leotards
Lingerie
Martial arts attire
Raincoats, rain hats, and ponchos
Scout uniforms
Shoe inserts and insoles
Shorts
Ski suits (snow)
Skirts
Slippers
Slips
Socks
Suits, slacks, and jackets
Sweaters

Exempt computers and computer-related accessories valued $1,500 or less:

Cables (for computers)
Calculators
Central processing units (CPU)
Compact disk drives
Computers for noncommercial home or personal use – Desktop – Laptop – Tablet
Computer batteries
Computer towers consisting of a central processing unit, random-access memory, and a storage drive
Data storage
Docking stations (for computers)
Electronic book readers
Hard drives
Headphones (including “earbuds”)
Ink cartridges (for computer printers)
Keyboards (for computers)
Mice (mouse devices)
Microphones (for computers)
Modems
Monitors (except devices that include a television tuner)
Motherboards
Personal digital assistant devices (except cellular telephones)
Port replicators
Printer cartridges
Printers (including “all-in-one” models)
RAM (random access memory)
Routers
Scanners
Software (nonrecreational) – Antivirus – Database – Educational – Financial – Word processing
Speakers (for computers)
Storage drives (for computers)
Tablets
Web camera

The “holiday” doesn’t cover:

Briefcases, suitcases, or garment bags
Watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, and handkerchiefs
Skis, swim fins, roller blades, and skates
Clothing items with a sales price of more than $100
Any school supply item with a sales price of more than $50
Books that are not otherwise exempt
Computers and computer-related accessories with a sales price of more than $1,500
Cellular telephones, video game consoles, digital media receivers, or devices that are not primarily designed to process data
Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes
Rentals of any eligible items
Repairs or alterations of any eligible items
Sales of any eligible items within a theme park or entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport

Source: Florida Department of Revenue.

written by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FRONT TOP