Florida Sales Tax Holidays: Baby Diapers and Little Kids’ Clothes, Gas + MORE

Florida’s popular sales tax holidays returned in 2022 like the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, but here are some NEW ones that we know Florida families will LOVE including a sales tax exemption on baby diapers and baby clothing and even tools!

But, that’s not all…there are a whopping 9 sales tax holidays and exemptions on schedule  this year. Nice, right??

Here are the current Florida sales tax holidays in 2022:

• Baby Diapers and clothing items for babies and kids ages 5 and younger: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023
• Energy Star Appliances: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023
• Home Hardening: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2024
• Motor Fuel: October 1-31, 2022

Sales Tax Holidays in 2022 that have ended:

• Children’s books: May 14-August 14, 2022 (ended)
• Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday: May 28, June 10, 2022 (ended)
• Freedom Week Sales Tax Holiday: July 1-July 7, 2022 (ended
• Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: July 25-August 7, 2022 (ended)
• Tool Time: September 3-9, 2022

What you need to know about the Florida’s Sales Tax Holidays and Exemptions Families Will LOVE:

Baby Diapers and clothing items for babies and kids ages 5 and younger: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023

If you’ve got a baby on the way or little ones at home, rejoice! Florida’s sales tax exemption on baby diapers, baby and toddler clothing, apparel and shoes will come as a huge relief for families. The sales tax exemption is for clothing intended for kids ages 5 and younger. While basic everyday clothing items are included in the exemption, surprisingly, snow suits and snow boots also qualify –again, it’s for clothing intended for kids 5 and younger, but why not take advantage if you have a winter or spring ski trip planned.

You can read the full list of what qualifies and what doesn’t in the Baby Diapers and Clothing Items for Babies and Toddlers Sales Tax Exemption here.

Energy Star Appliances: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023

If you’re in the market for 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 pocket book and the environment.

Keep in mind, 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 refrigerator/freezers selling for $3,000 or less
• Water heaters selling for $1,500 or less 

Read the Energy Star Appliances Exemption FAQs 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 read the Home Hardening Sales Tax Exemption FAQs here.

Florida Motor Fuel Sals Tax Relief: October 1 -October 31, 2022

The Florida Motor Fuel Tax Relief Act, or gas tax holiday, is scheduled for the month of October and gives Floridians a sales tax brake at the pump of about 25.3 cents per gallon of gas. The sales tax break applies to all types of gasoline, but not diesel fuel, aviation fuel or kerosene. You can learn more about Florida’s Motor Fuel Sales Tax Relief here.

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Sales Tax Holidays in 2022 that have ended:

Children’s Books 2022 Sales Tax Exemption: May 14-August 14, 2022

We’re super happy about this one because it’s coming just in time for the summer break when summer slide kicks in for some kids. Pick up a few books for your kiddos and save! The Children’s Books sales tax exemption applies to books written for kids ages 12 and younger. So, no–it does not apply for an adult book you may claim to buying for your child.

Here is how the Florida Department of Revenue is defining a ‘children’s book’: “For purposes of the sales tax exemption period, a children’s book is “any fiction or nonfiction book primarily intended for children age 12 or younger, including any board book, picture book, beginning reader book, juvenile chapter book, middle grade book, or audiobook on CD or tape.” If a book is labeled with an age range that includes 12 years old and younger, the book qualifies for the exemption.”

There is no limit on the number of books and no limit on how much the books may cost. And here’s some more good news. It also applies to children’s books purchased online during the tax break holiday. You can read more about Florida’s Children’s Books Sales Tax Exemption FAQs here.

Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday: May 28, June 10, 2022 

The Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday which runs May 28-June 10 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. Generators less than $1,000 also qualify for the sales tax break during the holiday.

NEW this year: 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.

You can see a complete list of what qualifies for the 2022 disaster prep sales tax holiday here on the Florida Department of Revenue’s site. 

Freedom Week Sales Tax Holiday: July 1-July 7, 2022

Next on the sales tax-relief pipeline is the Freedom Week Sales Tax Holiday which runs July 1-July 7. You’ll get a sales tax break on purchases of admission to music events, sporting events, cultural events, state park annual passes and fitness facilities for use in 2022. You’ll also get a break on certain outdoor–related supplies including: 

• NEW IN 2022: Sales tax exemption on the first $35 of recreational pool tubes, pool floats, inflatable chairs, and pool toys.
• NEW IN 2022: Residential pool supplies: Sales tax break on the first $100 of pool parts, nets, filters, lights. And, break on first $150 of the combined sales price of pool and spa chemicals purchased by an individual.
• Camping Supplies: First $200 of a tent and first $50 of sleeping bags, hammocks, camping stoves and camping chairs
• Fishing Supplies:  First $75 of fishing rods and reels, first $30 of a tackle box and first $5 on bait and tackle. 
• Boating and Water Safety Supplies: First $75 of life jackets and coolers; first $50 for safety flares; first $150 of water skis, wakeboards, kneeboards and inflatable/towable water tubes or floats; first $300 of paddle boards and surfboards; first $500 of canoes and kayaks; first $25 of snorkels, goggles and swimming masks. 
• You can read Florida’s Freedom Week Sales Tax Holiday FAQs here.

Related:

• 8 Must-Do Outdoor Adventures in Tampa Bay with the Outdoorsy Diva
• A Very Florida State-cation: Fun and unique ways to explore Florida this Summer

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: July 25-August 7, 2022

And finally, the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday returns July 25-Aug. 7. Just like previous years, you’ll get a sales tax break on clothing items, backpacks and footwear that are $100 or less, school supplies $50 or less, and the first $1,500 of a personal computers and personal computer related items. 

A great time to take advantage of the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is during the 15th Annual Back to School Fair presented by Hillsborough County Schools at WestShore Plaza on July 30 from 10 am -2 pm. We’ll have live performances, giveaways, and 60 local businesses and organizations on hand ready to talk to answer any questions you may have and live performances and giveaways. 

Tool Time Sales Tax Holiday: September 2, 2022-September 9, 2022

Need new tools? There’s a sales tax holiday for that! The ‘Tool Time’ sales tax holiday is 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 FAQ page to see what qualifies by price point.