Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday – August 3-5, 2018

The Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is happening again this year and we’ve got all the details you need to know to save some $$ on your back to school shopping!  These are dates that you can purchase clothing, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies without paying the sales tax (7% here in Polk County).

Here are the important details for this year’s event:

DATES: 

Begins on Friday, August 3, 2018 at 12:01 a.m.
Ends on Sunday, August 5, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.

WHAT IS TAX-FREE: 

• Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item (click here for full list)
• School uniforms less than $60 per item
• Certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item (click here for full list)
  • Included items: 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, protractors, compasses, and calculators
  • Miscellaneous items that are NOT included: printer paper, white-out type products, masking tape, staplers & staples

Last year there was an exemption for computers however they are not included for 2018.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:

Gift Cards – The sale of a gift card is never taxable. Eligible items purchased during the holiday period using a gift card will qualify for the exemption, regardless of when the gift card was purchased. Eligible items purchased with a gift card after the holiday period are taxable, even if the gift card was purchased during the holiday period.

Exchanging a Purchase after the Holiday Expires – When a customer purchases an eligible item during the holiday period, then later exchanges the item for the same item (e.g., different size or different color), no tax will be due even if the exchange is made after the holiday period. If an item is returned for a credit and a replacement purchased with the credit as a separate transaction after the holiday, sales tax will be due.

Coupons, Discounts, and Rebates –  If a coupon/discount offered by the retail seller brings the item under $60, it will be tax-free. A manufacturer’s coupon that brings an item under $60 will likely mean you owe sales tax. This is a bit confusing, if something falls around the $60 threshold, ask before you purchase.

Mail-Order, Catalog, or Online Sales – Eligible items purchased by mail order, catalog, or online are tax-free when the order is accepted by the company during the holiday period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the holiday period.

Click here for a full list of what is taxable and non-taxable during the Florida Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday from the Florida Department of Revenue.