Living and working in Florida is, in many ways, its own reward. Everyone knows that we have no State Income Tax, but our state extracts operating income from residents, as well as tourists, through the Sales Tax. So, when the State says we can avoid Sales Tax on certain items at certain times of the year, we should plan our purchases accordingly.

Unknown to many shoppers, local and otherwise, Sales Tax Holidays abound in Florida’s summer months. Knowing and understanding the timing of purchases during these Sales Tax Holidays can save consumers some hard-earned cash on seasonal, but necessary, purchases. In this Blog, we will outline and explain how to save a few bucks every summer.

June brings Hurricane Season, and our annual Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, affecting many supplies, from small (think: batteries), all the way up to $3,000 for portable generators, saving big bucks. This year’s dates are June 1 through June 14, 2025.

Our Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday runs throughout the entire month of July, and exempts supplies for outdoor activities. Admission to many events and performances are included.

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday comes next, this year from July 29 to August 11. During this period, school supplies, clothing, and some devices are exempted. This one can really ring up the savings, especially if you have school-age children. Computers up to $1,500 are tax-exempt during this period.

September brings Tool Time Tax Holiday, running from September 1 to September 7. As the weather begins to become less oppressive, projects and outdoor activities require tools and supplies to complete, and this is when Floridians can reduce project costs. Manual and power tools are included.

Unless Floridians need something immediately, understanding Sales Tax Holidays is a great way for us to plan purchases and save money.

Detailed information regarding Florida’s Sales Tax Holiday website can be found at floridarevenue.com/Pages/SalesTaxHolidays.aspx. Items and price points qualifying for each category are listed and clearly explained, with PDF pages available for reference while shopping. For each Holiday, click on the “Consumers” tab for non-business shopping guides, then on the PDF.

Years of inflation have made necessary items more expensive than ever. Also escalating over time have been sales tax percentage increases, which were frequently pitched to voters under the guise of “helping the children.” As a result, Sales Tax Holidays pay larger dividends to shoppers than ever before.

We love our home state, but we don’t feel the need to shower it in extra financial affection.