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There are changes to this year’s hurricane and back-to-school sales tax holidays that start on Friday.
TAMPA, Fla. — If you’re looking to get your hands on hurricane or school supplies, it’s a good day to head to the store because many items are tax-free starting Friday, Aug. 1.
Certain hurricane supplies will be permanently tax-free, while certain school supplies will be sales tax exempt for the month of August.
This is a change from previous years, when the hurricane supplies tax holiday was done twice a year for two weeks, and the back-to-school holiday ran once for two weeks.
The 2025 state budget axed the two holidays but made the tax exemption on certain school supplies an annual event that will happen in August.
Hurricane supplies that will permanently tax-free
- Batteries (AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt and 9-volt)
- Portable generators
- Fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
- Waterproof tarps
- Ground anchor systems
- Gas/diesel fuel cans up to five gallons
- First-aid kits
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Life jackets and bicycle helmets
Some of the items from years prior that aren’t included in the tax break include reusable ice packs, lanterns, flashlights, candles, portable power banks, non-electric food storage coolers and pet supplies.
Back-to-school tax-free holiday items
The lists below are not exhaustive. Check the Florida Department of Revenue website for more examples and stipulations.
Learning aids — $30 or less
- Electronic books
- Flashcards
- Interactive books
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Learning cards
- Matching games
- Memory games
- Puzzle books
- Search-and-find books
- Stacking or nesting blocks or sets
- Toys that teach reading or math skills
School supplies — $50 or less per item
- Binders
- 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
- Staplers and staples (used to secure paper products)
Computers and computer-related accessories — $1,500 or less
- Calculators
- Computers for noncommercial home or personal use
- Desktop
- Laptop
- Tablet
- Computer batteries
- Data storage devices (excludes those devices designed for use in digital cameras or other taxable items)
- Blank CDs
- Flash drives
- Memory cards
- Portable hard drives
- Storage drives
- Thumb drives
- Zip drives
- Electronic book readers
- Hard drives
- Headphones (including “earbuds”)
- Ink cartridges (for computer printers)
- Keyboards (for computers)
- Mice (mouse devices)
- Microphones (for computers)
- Monitors (except devices that include a television tuner)
- Speakers (for computers)
- Tablets
- Web cameras
Clothing and accessories — $100 or less per item
- Accessories
- Barrettes and bobby pins
- Bow ties
- Handbags
- Neckwear
- Scarves
- Ties
- Wallets
- Aerobic and fitness clothing
- Aprons and clothing shields
- Athletic supporters
- Backpacks and book bags
- Bathing suits, caps, and coverups
- Belts
- Bibs
- Bras
- Cleated and spiked shoes
- Diaper bags
- Dresses
- Fanny packs
- Gloves
- Hats and caps
- Jackets
- Jeans
- Lab coats
- Leggings, tights, and leg warmers
- Skirts
- Shorts
- Sleepwear
- Slippers
- Socks
- Sweaters
- Ties
10 Tampa Bay News’ Hadia Moosvi contributed to this report
