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The sales tax-free period for saving on school supplies ended Sunday because the 2024-2025 school year began on Monday, August 12, at most Florida schools.
But soon you will have two more tax exemptions available that will help you save and even overlap:
- Disaster preparedness
- Tool time
Whether you’re stocking up on hurricane supplies or getting an early start on your holiday shopping, here’s what you can buy tax-free in Florida during certain times in August and September.
➤ Weather warnings via SMS: Sign up to receive updates on current storms and weather events by location
Florida Tax Holiday Highlights: What You Need to Know in Seconds
- There are two sales tax-free days in Florida in August and early September.
- Save on hurricane supplies from August 24th to September 6th.
- Save on tools from September 1st to 7th.
- There is no limit to the number of items that can be purchased tax-free.
- Items purchased online, by mail order or by catalogue are exempt from VAT if the order is accepted by the company for immediate dispatch during the VAT-free period, even if delivery takes place after the VAT-free period.
Hurricane supplies become tax-free in Florida, just in time for the busiest months of hurricane season
Hurricane Preparing: Preparing Pets Before a Storm
If you have pets, here are some things to keep in mind when a hurricane approaches.
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The second and final two-week hurricane supply saving period begins August 24 and runs through September 6.
With the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season set to not only be eventful—some are predicting more than double the average of 14 named storms—but also lasting well into November, now is the time to stock up on supplies. As soon as a storm approaches, a rush to stores begins and shelves are bare of essentials.
➤ Tropical observation, August 12: Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to develop soon
The peak of hurricane season historically runs from mid-August to mid-October, but meteorologists say the combination of record-high sea temperatures and La Niña could mean storms could develop in November.
Which hurricane supplies are tax-free in Florida?
- A portable generator used to provide light, communications, or food preservation during a power outage and with a selling price of $3,000 or less.
- A tarp or other flexible, waterproof sheet with a retail price of $100 or less.
- An item normally sold as, or commonly advertised as, a ground anchor system or tie-down kit, with a retail price of $100 or less.
- A smoke detector or smoke alarm with a retail price of $70 or less.
- A fire extinguisher with a retail price of $70 or less.
- A carbon monoxide detector with a retail price of $70 or less.
- A non-electric food storage cooler with a retail price of $60 or less.
- A portable power bank with a retail price of $60 or less.
- A tank of gasoline or diesel with a retail price of $50 or less.
- A self-powered portable radio, two-way radio, or weather radio with a retail price of $50 or less.
- A package of AA, AAA, C, D cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and marine batteries, with a retail price of $50 or less.
- A portable, self-powered light source (battery, solar, hand crank, or gas powered) with a retail price of $40 or less.
- Flashlights
- Reusable ice (ice packs) with a retail price of $20 or less.
- Lanterns
- Candles
➤ Do you need a generator? Do you need a generator in Florida as hurricane season approaches? How to decide
➤ How to prepare for hurricane season: On a budget? Here are 5 inexpensive ways to prepare your home for Florida hurricane season
Animal supplies required for the evacuation are also tax-free
Supplies necessary for the evacuation of pets. For the purposes of this exemption, necessary supplies include the non-commercial purchase of:
- Bags of dry cat or dog food weighing 50 pounds or less and selling for $100 or less per bag.
- Portable kennels or pet carriers with a retail price of $100 or less each.
- Over-the-counter veterinary drugs with a retail price of $100 or less.
- Pet beds with a retail price of $40 or less each.
- Cat litter weighing 25 pounds or less and selling for $25 or less per unit.
- Leashes, collars and muzzles with a retail price of $20 or less each.
- Pet pads with a retail price of $20 or less per box or package.
- Manual can openers with a retail price of $15 or less each.
- Collapsible or travel food or water bowls with a retail price of $15 or less each.
- Litter boxes with a retail price of $15 or less each.
- Pet waste disposal bags with a retail price of $15 or less per package.
- Hamster or rabbit substrate with a retail price of $15 or less per package.
- Cans or pouches of wet dog or cat food with a retail price of USD 10 or less per can or pouch, or the equivalent when sold in a box or carton.
Additional resources for preparing for a hurricane
When is the last sales tax free day in Florida?
Florida’s sales tax-free period runs from September 1 to 7, overlapping with the state’s tax-free periods for disaster preparedness.
What items can be purchased tax-free during the Tool Time Tax Holiday campaign in Florida?
The items covered by the tool time exemption include:
- $25 or less per pair:
- $30 or less per item:
- High visibility vests
- $50 or less per item:
- Travel bags
- Fuel canister
- Hand tools
- LED flashlights
- Protective suits
- Calculate
- Shovels
- Tote bags
- 50 or less per pair (or equivalent if sold in sets of more than one pair):
- $75 or less per item:
- Toolboxes
- Hearing protection
- $100 or less per item:
- Electrical voltage and test equipment
- Safety helmets and other head protection
- Shop lighting
- Tool belt
- $125 or less per item:
- Industry code books
- Industry textbooks
- $150 or less per item:
- Tools for opening drains
- Hand-held pipe cutters
- Sanitary inspection equipment
- Batteries for power tools
- $175 or less per pair:
- $250 or less per item:
- $300 or less per item:
- Power tools
- Tool boxes for vehicles
