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Florida residents will get two disaster preparedness tax holidays with hurricane season swirling around the state.
The Disaster Preparedness 2023 Sales Tax holiday covers more items than in past tax-free periods, such as reusable ice and non-electric food storage coolers.
House Bill 7063, voted on by the Florida Legislature during the last session, and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, provided two sales tax holidays for disaster preparedness supplies. The first is ongoing now, through Sunday, June 9. The next will be Aug. 26 through Sept. 8 — right in the middle of the height of the season — according to Bethany Wester, communications director for the Florida Department of Revenue.
“After the bill becomes law, the Department of Revenue will provide information about the sales tax holiday on our website at floridarevenue.com/ disasterprep,” she said.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) said Floridians are expected to save an estimated $144 million on the purchase of taxfree items - more than five times the amount of savings when compared to the $25.6 million Floridians saved during the 2022 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.
“I want to thank our Governor and the Florida Legislature for their commitment to making disaster preparedness affordable and accessible to all Floridians,” said FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “I encourage residents to take time now to finalize their disaster supply kits and take advantage of these tax holidays in preparation for hurricane season.”
Here are some of the items that would be covered under the sales tax holidays:
$2 or less: Cans or pouch of wet pet food
$15 or less: Manual can openers, collapsible or travel-sized food or water bowls for pets, cat litter pans, pet waste disposal bags, hamster or rabbit substrate
$20 or less: Reusable ice, leashes, collars and muzzles for pets, pet pads
$30 or less: Bags of dry dog food weighing 15 or less pounds
$50 or less: Portable, self-powered radios, twoway radios, weather-band radios, gas or diesel fuel tanks, batteries including rechargeable batteries (sizes AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt, 9-volt)
$60 or less: Non- electric food storage coolers, portable power banks
$70 or less: Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors
$100 or less: Tarpaulins, ground anchor systems, portable pet kennels
$1,000 or less (up from $500 in previous years): Portable generators
