Concerts, movies events part of Florida's historic package of sales tax breaks. What to know

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
·5 min read
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Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the largest tax relief plan in Florida's history Thursday with $2.7 billion in tax relief covering a wide swath of sales tax items like baby and toddler necessities, disaster preparedness and even recreational items and children's toys.

“Because of President Biden’s disastrous economic policies, Florida families are feeling the pressure of inflation on their wallets,” DeSantis said in a press release. “But in Florida, we are ensuring that our state’s economic success gets passed on to the people that made it possible. I will continue to push smart fiscal policy that will allow Florida families to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets. Stronger families make a stronger Florida.”

Part of the package includes permanent sales tax exemptions, which DeSantis says will save Florida families nearly $234 million.

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Also included in the package are two 14-day back-to-school sales tax holidays, two 14-day hurricane disaster preparedness sales tax holidays, a “Freedom Summer” sales tax holiday on recreational items and children’s toys and a tools and equipment sales tax holiday.

Florida’s sales tax exemptions have spending limits. Items with sales prices that exceed those limits will still be taxed.

Florida’s new permanent sales tax exemptions

Florida’s historic sales tax relief package includes permanent exemptions for baby and toddler needs such as:

  • Cribs

  • Playpens

  • Strollers

  • Child safety products

  • Diapers

  • Baby wipes

  • Bottles

  • Baby monitors

  • Bicycle child carrier seats and trailers

  • Baby exercisers

  • Changing tables and pads

  • Clothing and shoes for children under 5 years old.

The package also provides permanent exemptions for other items:

  • Oral hygiene products

  • Firearm safety devices

  • Firearm trigger locks and cables

Florida back-to-school sales tax holidays

Florida will have two back-to-school sales tax holidays between July 24 – Aug. 6 and Jan. 1-14, 2024.

During the sales tax holiday period, the following items will be exempt:

  • Clothing, footwear and certain accessories

  • Certain school supplies

  • Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles

  • Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories

Disaster preparedness sales tax holidays

There will be two Florida disaster preparedness sales takes holidays. The first will take place May 27 – June 9 and the second will be between Aug. 26 and Sept. 8.

House Bill 7063 makes the following items exempt from sales tax during the two 14-day periods:

  • Self-powered lights of $40 or less.

  • Portable self-powered radio, two-way radio or weather-band radio of $50 or less.

  • A tarpaulin or other flexible waterproof sheeting with a sales price of $100 or less.

  • An item normally sold as, or generally advertised as, a ground anchor system or tie-down kit with a sales price of $100 or less.

  • A gas or diesel fuel tank with a sales price of $50 or less.

  • A package of AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, with a sales price of $50 or less.

  • A nonelectric food storage cooler with a sales price of $60 or less.

  • A portable generator used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage with a sales price of $3,000 or less.

  • Reusable ice with a sales price of $20 or less.

  • A portable power bank with a sales price of $60 or less.

  • A smoke detector or smoke alarm with a sales price of $70 or less.

  • A fire extinguisher with a sales price of $70 or less.

  • A carbon monoxide detector with a sales price of $70 or less.

  • More

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‘Freedom Summer’ sales tax holiday

The “Freedom Summer” sales tax holiday runs from May 29 to Sept. 4 and provides exemptions for admissions to music, sporting and cultural events, start park annual passes and fitness facilities. It also targets certain boating, water, camping, fishing, residential pool and general outdoor supplies, plus children’s athletic equipment and toys.

  • Admissions

    • Live music events

    • Live sporting events

    • Movies

    • Museums

    • State parks

    • Fairs

    • Festivals

    • More

  • Boating and water activity

    • Canoes

    • Kayaks

    • Paddleboards

    • Surfboards

    • Life jackets

    • Paddles

    • Snorkels

    • More

  • Camping

    • Tents

    • Sleeping bags

    • Camping lanterns

    • Camping stoves

    • More

  • Fishing

    • Rods and reels (as sets and individually)

    • Tackle boxes

    • Bait and tackle

  • General outdoor

    • Bicycles

    • Binoculars

    • Sunglasses

    • Sunscreen

    • Outdoor gas and charcoal grills

  • Residential pool

    • All residential pool and spa chemicals

    • Individual residential pool and spa replacement parts, nets, filters, lights and covers

  • Children’s athletic equipment

    • Consumer products with a sales price of $100 or less that are intended for kids 12 years old and younger.

  • Children’s toys

    • Consumer products with a sales price of $75 or less that are intended for kids 12 years old and younger

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Tools and equipment sales tax holiday

The tools and equipment sales tax holiday will take place between Sept. 2-8. Here’s what’s included:

  • Hand tools

  • Power tools

  • Power tool batteries

  • Work gloves

  • Safety glasses

  • Work boots

  • Tool belts

  • Toolboxes

  • Ladders

  • More

One-year exemption on gas stoves and Energy Star appliances

The tax relief package includes a one-year sales tax exemption on gas stoves and Energy Star appliances.

Doubling annual cap on “Strong Families” tax credit

The annual cap for the Strong Families Tax Credit was doubled to $20 million. This program was created to support eligible charitable organizations that provide services focused on child welfare and well-being.

Under the program, taxpayers can make private monetary contributions to a designated charitable organization and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit against the following Florida taxes:

  • Corporate income tax

  • Excise tax on liquor, wine and malt beverages

  • Gas and oil production tax

  • Insurance premium tax

  • Use tax due under a direct pay permit

Taxpayers who wish to participate must apply to the Department of Revenue for an allocation of tax credits.

Rent tax reduction for small businesses

There will also be a reduction in the tax rate on business rent from the current 5.5% down to 4.5% effective Dec. 1 to help small businesses keep more of their profits.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida sales tax holidays include billions in relief. What to know