Florida for the first time is offering a sales tax holiday as students return from the winter break.
Published on December 28, 2023 at 12:32 pm
A top retail-industry official is optimistic businesses will get a boost when Florida for the first time offers a back-to-school tax “holiday” as students return from the winter break.
At the same time, Florida Retail Federation President and CEO Scott Shalley acknowledges being somewhat apprehensive that the tax-free shopping period on clothes, school supplies and personal computers could get lost in the crowd of holidays as the calendar turns to 2024.
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“It’s certainly a fair concern,” Shalley replied to a question from The News Service of Florida. “It is right on the heels of the holidays, but we hope folks will be out trying to take advantage of sales in other areas. This will just be an added opportunity.”
The tax holiday will start Monday and continue through Jan. 14. It is similar to the back-to-school holidays that Florida has long offered during the summer, including this year.
Shoppers won’t have to pay sales tax on:
- Clothes, wallets, bags, backpacks, fanny packs, shoes and diaper bags that cost $100 or less.
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- 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, staplers, staples, protractors, compasses and calculators that cost $50 or less.
- Learning aids and puzzles, such as flashcards, memory games and toys intended to teach reading or math skills, that cost $30 or less.
- Personal computers and related accessories — such as keyboards and monitors — that cost $1,500 or less. Not included are such things as cellphones and video game consoles.
“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,” Shalley said. “We are going to see many retailers have sales of their own to piggyback.”
State economists have projected that the two back-to-school holidays this fiscal year will cut state revenue by $126.8 million and local government revenue by $33.8 million.
While the results won’t be determined for a couple of months, as receipts are finalized, Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed again holding two back-to-school holidays during the 2024-2025 fiscal year. That proposal is tied to his $114.4 billion budget recommendation, which lawmakers will consider during the session that starts Jan. 9.
Lead image: Florida for the first time is offering a sales tax holiday as students return from the winter break. | Gene J. Puskar, AP
