Florida Sales Tax Holiday Arrives Ahead Of Hurricane Season

MIAMI, FL — With the dreaded arrival of hurricane season on June 1, there is also a modicum of a silver lining. Floridians can once again save on batteries, flashlights and other storm essentials starting on Friday, May 31.

The 2019 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday runs through Thursday, June 6.

During the sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. However, the sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items.

State officials said more than six million people were evacuated throughout Florida and 700 shelters were opened in 2017, the year when Hurricane Irma struck.

Last year, Hurricane Michael became the first Category 5 to make landfall in the U.S. since Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and only the fourth on record when it slammed into the U.S. coast near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

The sales tax holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis to help the state's more than 20 million residents cope with any storms that come ashore.

The sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

Here is a list of qualifying items by price range:

Selling for $10 or less:
Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)

Selling for $20 or less:
Any portable self-powered light source
(powered by battery, solar, hand-crank, or gas), candles, flashlights, lanterns

Selling for $25 or less:
Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers

Selling for $30 or less:

• Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only (excluding automobile and boat batteries): AAA-cell, AA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, 9-volt
• Coolers and ice chests (food-storage, nonelectrical)

Selling for $50 or less:
• Bungee cords
• Ground anchor systems
• Radios (powered by battery, solar, or hand crank), including two-way,
and weather band
• Ratchet straps
• Tarpaulins (tarps)
• Tie-down kits
• Visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop
cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting

Selling for $750 or less:
Portable generators used to provide light or
communications, or to preserve food in the event
of a power outage

Other preparedness items that are already non taxable, include bottled water, canned foods, first-aid kits, prescription baby food, baby formulas and prescription and non-prescription medications, including most over-the-counter medicines.

Visit FloridaDisaster.org for help with hurricane planning.