For the first time, families prepping for the new school year will have the entire month of August to buy supplies tax-free. For those shopping in Osceola County, that means a savings of 7.5% off qualifying purchases. Combined with back-to-school sales at many stores, that can add up to some helpful savings.
“I was excited to hear about having tax-free month instead of week,” local mom Kerri VanBuskirk said. “Knowing I will not have to fight the crowds the week before school will be helpful. Even after school starts, a lot of times the school will ask for different supplies, and tax week is done. But this year we can shop tax-free after school has started for those little extras the teachers or classrooms may need.”
Since 1998, Florida has offered a back-to-school sales tax holiday, first for a weekend, and most recently for two weeks around the end of July and beginning of August. Thanks to changes that went into effect July 1, Florida shoppers now have from Aug. 1-31 every year to shop tax-free.
Items that qualify for the tax-free status include: Clothing and footwear costing $100 or less per item; school supplies costing $50 or less each; learning aids and puzzles up to $30; and personal computers costing up to $1500.
Per a News Service of Florida report, The Florida Retail Federation said parents of kindergarten through 12th-grade students are projected to spend an average of $858 on clothes and supplies nationally. For families with college students, the average increases to $1,326. Electronics makes up the largest portion of the expenses, followed by clothes for K-12 students. The back-to-school holiday is projected to save shoppers $217 million a year.
“This is always a very popular holiday for retailers,” Lorena Holley, general counsel and vice president of the Florida Retail Federation, said. “They run additional promotions and always expect large crowds.”
Not everyone is enamored, however, with tax holidays. The Washington, D.C.-based Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy argues the discount periods have minimal benefit for working families.
“Wealthier taxpayers are often best positioned to benefit from a temporary exemption since they have more flexibility to shift the timing of their purchases to take advantage of the tax break—an option that isn’t available to families living paycheck to paycheck,” said Miles Trinidad, a state analyst for the non-profit organization.
House Bill 7031 doesn’t just extend the back-to-school tax holiday. It also introduces a hunting, fishing and camping sales tax holiday, which runs from Sept. 8-Dec. 31, 2025. Tents costing up to $200, sleeping bags, hammocks, and collapsible chairs costing up to $50, and flashlights and lanterns costing up to $30 will not be taxable. Hunting supplies including firearms, bows, and ammunition will also be tax-free.
The bill additionally includes some year-round tax-exempt safety items: smoke detectors, bicycle helmets, insect repellant, sunscreen, portable generators, tarps, fuel containers, and life jackets are now tax-free.
“In this year’s tax package, we emphasized making tax holidays permanent and expanded existing exemptions so Floridians can take greater advantage of real, lasting savings,” Rep. Wyman Duggan, Chair of the Ways & Means Committee, said. “Our goal is simple: return as much money as possible back to the people of Florida.”
For a comprehensive list of eligible tax-free items, go to https://floridarevenue. com/taxes/tips/Documents/ TIP_25A01-08.pdf.
