sales tax

Florida’s Sales Tax Holidays: Freedom Month, Back-to-School + MORE

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Florida’s popular sales tax holidays are back for 2024! The governor has signed the bill, officially bringing back the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, and Freedom Month.

This means you’ll save sales tax on the purchase of certain hurricane prep supplies, school supplies, certain outdoor recreation items, park and museum admission, and more.

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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:

  • Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday: June 1 – 14 and August 24 – September 6, 2024
  • Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday: July 1 – July 31, 2024
  • Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: July 29 – August 11, 2024
  • Skilled Worker Sales Tax Holiday: September 1 – 7, 2024

What you need to know about the 2024 Florida Sales Tax Holidays and Exemptions 

Here are a few sales tax breaks Florida families will want to pay close attention to:

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 movie tickets, admission to music, events, sporting events, cultural events, Florida state park annual passes, and fitness facilities. The governor announced the sales tax holiday at the Tampa Bay History Center on April 30. 

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.

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: July 29 – August 11, 2024 

There is only one 14-day Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday on schedule for this next fiscal year to help you save while shopping for school supplies. The dates are July 29 – August 11, 2024. 

Just like in previous years, the 2024 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 

Click for Back to School Sales Tax Holiday FAQs and see what else qualifies.

 

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.

 

Skilled Worker “Tool Time” Sales Tax Holiday: September 1 – September 7, 2024

Working as a skilled worker and needing new tools? There’s a sales tax holiday for that! The  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. 

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.