The 2021 Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is happening again this year from July 31 – August 9, 2021. No longer just a tax free weekend in Florida – it has been expanded to 10 days!
We’ve got all the details you need to know to save money 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).
This year Florida also has a Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday from May 28 – June 6, 2021 to save money on Hurricane Supplies, and a brand new Freedom Week Sales Tax Holiday from July 1 – July 7, 2021 to save on camping gear, kayaks, snorkeling gear, fishing rods, outdoor supplies, sports equipment, concert tickets, annual museum memberships, sporting events, plays, gym memberships, and more. Learn more in our article on all 3 of Florida’s Sales Tax Weekends. These tax free weekends are part of HB 7061 passed by the Florida Legislature in 2021.
Here are the important details for the 2021 Back to School Sales Tax Holiday in Florida:
DATES:
Begins on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.
Ends on Monday, August 9, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
WHAT IS TAX-FREE:
- Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item (Clothing, wallets, or bags, including handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, and diaper bags. Excludes briefcases, suitcases, and other garment bags) Note this is ANY item of clothing on the allowed list, including clothing and footwear for adults.
- School uniforms less than $60 per item
- Certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
- 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
- The first $1,000 of the sales price of personal computers or personal computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.
The Department of Revenue publishes a full list of eligible items each year – click here to check for the full list.
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.
Excluded Locations – Sales of any eligible items in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.