Florida officials visit Ormond Beach swim school to discuss water safety
Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez says a new program will provide low-income families with vouchers for swim lessons for children up to age four.
In 59 of Florida’s 67 counties, the 2024-2025 school year will begin on the earliest possible date, August 12. By law, the earliest school start date in the state is August 10, which falls on a Saturday this year.
That leaves residents with less than a week to get their back-to-school shopping done. Luckily, Florida’s tax-free week for students, parents and teachers is still ongoing, but you’ll want to hurry.
Here’s what you need to know about goods you can buy tax-free and when that period officially ends.
When does Florida’s tax-free exemption for school supplies end?
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, Florida’s 2024 sales tax-free back-to-school period ends on Sunday, August 11.
Which school materials are tax-free?
Personal computers or personal computer accessories purchased for non-commercial home or personal use and with a retail price of $1,500 or less. Personal computers include:
- calculator
- Desktop
- Electronic book readers
- Handheld devices
- Laptop
- Tablets
- Tower computer
PC accessories include:
- Keyboards
- Mice
- Modems
- Monitors
- Non-leisure software
- Other peripherals
- Personal digital assistants
- Router
Items with a retail price of $100 or less per unit, including:
- Clothing
- All footwear, except skis, flippers, roller skates and ice skates
- All articles of clothing intended to be worn on or around the human body, excluding watches, watch straps, jewellery, umbrellas and handkerchiefs
- Purses or bags, including:
- Backpacks
- Diaper bags
- Belt bags
- Handbags
School supplies with a retail price of $50 or less per item, including:
- binder
- Cellophane tape
- Circle
- Writing pads
- Computer disks
- Construction paper
- colored pencils
- Erasers
- Folder
- Glue or stick
- Notepads
- Lunch boxes
- Markings
- Laptops
- Notebook filler paper
- Pencils
- pencils
- Billboard
- Poster Paper
- Protractor
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Staplers and staples for fastening paper products
Learning aids and puzzles with a retail price of $30 or less, including:
- Flashcards or other learning cards
- Interactive or electronic books and toys for learning reading or math skills
- Matching or other memory games
- Puzzle books and hidden object books
- Stacking or nesting blocks or sets
Detailed list of Florida tax-free school benefits
Is there a limit to the amount of school supplies you can buy tax-free?
No. The VAT exemption is based on the selling price of the individual item and not on the number of items purchased.
Which items are not tax-free during the school VAT holidays?
The 2024 back-to-school sales tax-free period in Florida does not apply to:
- Any item of clothing with a retail price over $100.
- All school supplies with a retail price over $50.
- Learning aids and puzzles with a retail price of over $30.
- Books not otherwise exempt.
- Computers and computer accessories with a retail price over $1,500.
- Computers and computer accessories purchased for commercial purposes.
- Rental of all eligible items.
- Repairs or alterations to all eligible items.
- Sale of eligible items at a theme park, entertainment complex, place of public accommodation, or airport.
Does the back-to-school sales tax exemption also apply to items purchased online?
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, items purchased online are exempt from sales tax if the order is accepted by the business for immediate shipment during the sales tax-free period – even if the delivery does not occur until after the sales tax-free period.
What if you purchased an item and sales tax was charged? What can you do?
Bring your receipt to the store and ask for a refund of the tax that was mistakenly collected, the Florida Department of Revenue said. Give the store a copy of TIP No. 24A01-03 or refer the seller to floridarevenue.com.
