Florida’s Sales Tax Holidays: Freedom Month + MORE
Florida’s popular sales tax holidays like the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday and the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday are awaiting the governor’s signature for 2024, but he officially announced today that he will be signing Freedom Month from July -July 31 into the state budget.
This means you’ll save sales tax on the purchase of certain outdoor recreation items, park and museum admission, pool supplies, and more during the month of July.
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The governor also announced that entry to Florida’s state parks will also be waived during Memorial Day weekend, May 24-27, 2024.
The Florida Legislature has enacted sales tax holidays since 1998 when the Back-to-School Sales Tax holiday first debuted. The Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday followed in 2006 and Freedom Month (previously called Freedom Summer) in 2021.
Since we are a site dedicated to parents and families, it’s also important to note that there are permanent sales tax exemptions impacting you. Sales tax breaks on Baby and Toddler items like clothing, shoes, diapers, and wipes were made permanent last year along with exemptions on the purchase of cribs and strollers. Other permanent sales tax exemptions include tax breaks on hygiene products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash.
2024 Florida sales tax holidays:
- (PROPOSED) Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday: June 1 – 14 and August 24 – September 6, 2024
- (ANNOUNCED) Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday: July 1 – July 31, 2024
- (PROPOSED) Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: July 29 – August 11, 2024
- (PROPOSED) Skilled Worker Sales Tax Holiday: September 1 – 7, 2024
- (ONGOING) Energy Star Appliances: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
- (ONGOING) Home Hardening: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024
What you need to know about the CURRENT Florida Sales Tax Holidays and Exemptions
Here are a few sales tax breaks Florida families will want to pay close attention to:
Baby & Toddler Clothing and Diapers Sales Tax Exemption: Permanent
Raising a baby and toddler can get expensive, especially when it comes to diapers and clothing since they grow so quickly (like practically overnight, right??). The Florida sales tax exemption on these items intended for kids ages 5 and younger will no doubt save hard-earned dollars for Florida families. The diaper sales tax exemption includes single-use diapers, reusable diapers, and reusable diaper inserts. Read more about the Baby & Toddler Clothing and Diaper Sales Tax Exemption here.
Home Hardening Sales Tax Exemption: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024
Need new windows, doors, or garage door? This temporary sales tax exemption will provide some relief for you since it’s a big investment, but it only applies to impact-resistant garage doors, impact-resistant windows, and impact-resistant doors.
This is something you’d want anyway as you make improvements to your home since we’re in Florida and hurricanes do happen. You can read the Home Hardening Sales Tax Exemption FAQs here.
Energy Star Appliances: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
If you need a new washing machine or refrigerator for the house, this is a good time to buy. Energy Star appliances earn the designation by the United States Environmental Protection Agency if they meet or exceed their Energy Star program requirements–which means they consume less energy and are better for your pocketbook and the environment.
Keep in mind, that this sales tax exemption is only for non-commercial use and on new appliances only. Here is what’s eligible:
- Clothes dryers selling for $1,500 or less
- Washing machines selling for $1,500 or less
- Refrigerators or Combination refrigerators/freezers selling for $3,000 or less
- Water heaters selling for $1,500 or less
Read the Energy Star Appliances Exemption FAQs here.
2024 Florida Sales Tax Holidays and Exemptions
The Florida Legislature passed HB 7073 which is awaiting the governor’s signature. Use this as a guide to give you an idea of what to expect if/when signed into law.
PROPOSED 2024 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays: June 1 – 14 and August 24 – September 6, 2024
The two 14-day Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays will give you a break on sales tax on some supplies like flashlights and lanterns that are $40 or less, non-electric food coolers and portable power banks selling for $60 or less, tarps less than $100 and batteries that are $50 or less. Portable generators that are $3,000 or less also qualify for the sales tax break during the holiday.
Sales tax exemptions on the first $70 of smoke detectors and alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers. Some items needed for household pets like will also be exempt, like leashes and collars that are $20 or less and pet beds that are $40 or less.
The complete 2024 list and FAQs will come as soon as the bill is signed.
(Officially announced on April 30) Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday: July 1 – July 31, 2024
Next on the sales tax-relief pipeline is the Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday which gets you a sales tax break on recreational purchases like admission to music, events, sporting events, cultural events, state park annual passes, and fitness facilities. The governor announced the sales tax holiday at the Tampa Bay History Center on April 30. While the Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday was extended to three months in 2023, we’re only getting one month in 2024.
This will be a great time to buy a kayak to explore Tampa Bay with the kids and plan your best summer break ever!
Here are a few of the qualifying items for 2024:
- Tickets, admissions, annual passes: A sales tax break on the purchase of certain recreation events on schedule between July 1 through December 31, 2024, including museum and state park entries and annual passes, movie tickets, concert tickets, festivals, sporting events, musical theater and ballet performances. The sales tax break will also apply to gym and fitness facility access from July 1 through December 31, 2024.
- Residential pool supplies: A sales tax break on pool parts, nets, filters, and lights selling for $100 or less. And, break on combined sales price of pool and spa chemicals purchased by an individual for $150 or less.
- Camping Supplies: Tents selling for $200 or less, sleeping bags, hammocks, camping stoves, and camping chairs selling for $50 or less, and camping lanterns and flashlights selling for $30 or less.
- Fishing Supplies: Fishing rods and reels selling for $75 or less, or $150 or less for those sold as a pair. Tackle boxes selling for $30 or less and bait and tackle selling for $5 or less.
- Boating and Water Safety Supplies: Life jackets, coolers, paddles and oars selling for $75 or less; recreation pool toys and floats selling for $35 or less; water skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, and inflatable/towable water tubes or floats selling for $150 or less; paddle boards and surfboards selling for $300 or less; canoes and kayaks selling for $500 or less; and snorkels, goggles and swimming masks selling for $25 or less.
- General Outdoor Supplies: Sunscreen or insect repellant selling for $15 or less; sunglasses selling for $100 or less; water bottles selling for $30 or less; hydration packs selling for $50 or less; bike helmets selling for $50 or less; bicycles selling for $500 or less, and more.
- Electric Scooters: Electric scooters weighing less than 75 pounds, less than two feet wide, with a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour selling for $500 or less.
- Florida’s Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday FAQs coming once official.
PROPOSED Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: July 29 – August 11, 2024
In 2024, only one 14-day Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is proposed and awaiting the governor’s signature to help you save while shopping for school supplies. The proposed dates are July 29 – August 11, 2024.
Just like in previous years, the 2024 proposed sales tax breaks include:
- Clothing items, backpacks, and footwear selling for $100 or less
- School supplies $50 or less
- Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less
- Personal computers and personal computer-related items selling for $1500 or less
PROPOSED Skilled Worker “Tool Time” Sales Tax Holiday: September 1 – September 7, 2024
Working as a skilled worker and needing new tools? There’s a proposed sales tax holiday for that! The proposed 2024 Skilled Workers ‘Tool Time’ sales tax holiday offers a temporary break for purchases of tools commonly used by skilled trade workers like work gives, hand tools, safety glasses, and power tools. Since there is a long list, here is a link to the Tool Time Sales Tax Holiday FAQ page coming once bill signed.