Florida is kicking off the New Year on a financially savvy note with a brand-new Back-to-School Tax Holiday, starting today. For the first time, Sunshine State shoppers are getting a winter break from sales tax, adding a budget boost post-holidays.
From today through January 14, Floridians can snag a variety of items sans the sales tax. Tax-exempt merchandise includes clothing, footwear, and select accessories up to $100 per item, as Local 10 News reports. Certain school supplies fall under this umbrella as well, as long as they ring up at $50 or less, while learning aids and puzzles must hit a $30 ceiling to qualify. Tech-seekers can also take advantage of the tax break, with personal computers and related accessories priced up to $1,500 marked tax-free when intended for noncommercial home use.
However, not everything is tax-free paradise. The tax holiday lays out exclusions. Items like book that are not typically tax-exempt, clothing over $100, and computer-related accessories above $1,500 aren't included in the deal. Nor are the items used for commercial purposes, or purchases made in places like theme parks and airports, according to WFLA.
“This being new, we are hoping that people will get out and take advantage of the savings opportunities in the start of the new year,” Florida Retail Federation's president Scott Shalley expressed in a statement obtained by WPBF. Local retailers are expected to jump on the bandwagon, with additional sales to complement the statewide tax hiatus.
The tax holiday isn't the only financial relief Floridians can expect this year. The state’s Kidcare Program is set for expansion under HB 121 this 2024, with coverage extending to households earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level. This widening of eligibility aims to assist more families in managing their children's medical costs outside of Medicaid's scope.
