Back-to-school sales tax holiday Aug. 5-7

Posted

Florida’s three-day back-to-school sales tax holiday will take place Aug. 5-7 this year, enabling parents to take advantage of summer savings on clothing and other school-related purchases.

During the tax holiday, Florida law directs that no sales tax or local option tax will be collected on the purchases of clothing, footwear and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item. Certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item will also be tax-exempt.

New this year, qualifying businesses may choose not to participate in the sales tax holiday. Qualified businesses must send a written notice to the Florida Department of Revenue by Aug. 1, and notices stating that the business will not be participating in the tax holiday must be posted at each business location. Complete details are available on the Florida Department of Revenue website. Examples of other places of business where the tax exemption will not apply include theme parks, entertainment complexes, public lodging establishments and airports.

For a complete list of eligible items, visit www.myflorida.com/dor.

Examples of Tax-exempt clothing:

Accessories (generally)

Barrettes and bobby pins

Belt buckles

Bow ties

Hairnets, bows, clips, and hairbands

Handbags

Neckwear

Ponytail holders

Scarves

Ties

Wallets

Aerobic/fitness clothing

Aprons/clothing shields

Athletic supporters

Baby clothes

Backpacks

Bandanas

Baseball cleats

Bathing suits, caps, and cover-ups

Belts

Bibs

Blouses

Book bags

Boots (except ski boots)

Bowling shoes (purchased)

Braces and supports worn to correct or alleviate a physical incapacity or injury*

Bras

Caps and hats

Choir and altar clothing*

Cleated and spiked shoes

Clerical vestments*

Coats and wraps

Coin purses

Costumes

Coveralls

Diaper bags

Diapers, diaper inserts (adult and baby, cloth or disposable)

Dresses

Employee uniforms

Fanny packs

Fishing vests (nonflotation)

Formal clothing (purchased)

Gloves (generally)Dress (purchased)

Garden

Leather

Work

Graduation caps and gowns

Gym suits and uniforms

Hats

Hosiery (including support hosiery)

Hunting vests

Insoles

Jackets

Jeans

Lab coats

Leg warmers

Leotards and tights

Lingerie

Martial arts attire

Overshoes and rubber shoes

Pants

Panty hose

Purses

Raincoats, rain hats, and ponchos

Receiving blankets

Religious clothing*

Robes

Safety clothing

Safety shoes

Scout uniforms

Shawls and wraps

Shirts

Shoe inserts

Shoes (including athletic)

Shoulder pads (e.g., dresses or jackets)

Shorts

Ski suits (snow)

Skirts

Sleepwear (nightgowns and pajamas)

Slippers

Slips

Socks

Sports uniforms (except pads, helmets)

Suits, slacks, and jackets

Suspenders

Sweatbands

Sweaters

Swim suits and trunks

Ties (neckties - all)

Tights

Tuxedos (excluding rentals)

Underclothes

Uniforms (work, school, and athletic - excluding pads)

Vests

Vintage clothing

Work clothes and uniforms

* These items are already exempt as religious, prescription, prosthetic, or orthopedic items

Examples of Exempt School Supply Items:

Binders

Calculators

Cellophane (transparent) tape

Colored pencils

Compasses

Composition books

Computer disks (blank CDs only)

Construction paper

Crayons

Erasers

Folders

Glue (stick and liquid)

Highlighters

Legal pads

Lunch boxes

Markers

Notebook filler paper

Notebooks

Paste

Pencils, including mechanical and refills

Pens, including felt, ballpoint, fountain, highlighters, and refills

Poster board

Poster paper

Protractors

Rulers

Scissors

Notebook filler paper

Notebooks

Paste

Pencils, including mechanical and refills

Pens, including felt, ballpoint, fountain, highlighters, and refills

Poster board

Poster paper

Protractors

Rulers

Scissors

Examples of Taxable School Supply Items:

Books not otherwise exempt

Computer paper

Correction tape, fluid, or pens

Masking tape

Printer paper

Staplers

Staples