Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday
Getting prepared for the upcoming school year?
Throughout August Floridians can save at the checkout line, as Florida’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday runs from Aug. 1 through 31.
During the annual sales tax holiday period, tax is not due for the retail sale of:
• Clothing, footwear, wallets, bags, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, and diaper bags with a sales price of $100 or less per item.
• Certain school supplies with a sales price of $50 or less per item.
• Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of $30 or less.
• Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories with a sales price of $1,500 or less, when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.
“Proud to deliver additional sales tax holidays, including the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday that begins on Aug. 1,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis at a press conference in Panama City Beach on Monday. “With the new school year just around the corner, Florida families can save on back-to-school shopping during the tax holiday for the entire month of August. By cutting taxes, empowering parents, and growing our economy, we’re making it easier for people to live, work, and thrive in the Free State of Florida.”
There is no option for dealers to opt-out of the annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday.
No tax is due on the sale or purchase of any school supply item with a sales price of $50 or less per item. The exemption does not apply to sales of school supplies within a theme park or entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.
“School supplies” means pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, notebook filler paper, legal pads, binders, lunch boxes, construction paper, markers, folders, poster board, composition books, poster paper, scissors, cellophane tape, glue, paste, rulers, computer disks, staplers and staples (used to secure paper products), protractors, and compasses.
No tax is due on the sale or purchase of any learning aid or jigsaw puzzle with a sales price of $30 or less. The exemption does not apply to sales of learning aids or jigsaw puzzles within a theme park or entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.
“Learning aids” means flashcards or other learning cards, matching or other memory games, puzzle books and search-and-find books, interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teach reading or math skills, and stacking or nesting blocks or sets.
“Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories may qualify for the exemption,” as stated by the Florida Department of Revenue.
The exemption applies to an eligible item with a sales price of $1,500 or less, when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.
“This exemption does not apply to sales of personal computers or computer-related accessories for use in a trade or business, or to sales within a theme park or entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport,” DOR officials said.
“Personal computers” includes electronic book readers, calculators, laptops, desktops, handheld devices, tablets, or tower computers. The term does not include cellular telephones, video game consoles, digital media receivers, or devices that are not primarily designed to process data. “Personal computer-related accessories” includes keyboards, mice (mouse devices), personal digital assistants, monitors without a television tuner, other peripheral devices, modems, routers, and non-recreational software, regardless of whether the accessories are used in association with a personal computer base unit. Computer-related accessories do not include furniture or systems, devices, software, monitors with a television tuner, or peripherals that are designed or intended primarily for recreational use.
When it comes to clothing, tax exempt items are any article of wearing apparel, including all footwear (except skis, swim fins, roller blades, and skates), intended to be worn on or about the human body. Clothing does not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, or handkerchiefs.
More information and to view lists of qualifying items.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com