Florida’s 2017 Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday: Dates, Details

TAMPA, FL — As the countdown begins for the start of the 2017-18 school year, parents will find a financial break is available to help them prepare their children for hitting the books. Florida’s 2017 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday takes place Aug. 4-6.

Approved by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, the annual holiday provides tax-free shopping on traditional school supplies and clothing. This year’s holiday also makes some computers and accessories tax-free.

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Here are the details parents need to know:

The Dates

This year’s tax-free holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6.

What Qualifies For Tax Breaks

Here’s a rundown of items that will ring up at the register without taxes during the Aug. 4-6 period:

• Clothing, shoes and some accessories that cost $60 or less per item
• School supplies that sell for $15 or less per item, such as paper, pencils, pens, notebooks
• Personal computers and some computer-related accessories with price tags of $750 or under. These items must be purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.

What Doesn’t Qualify For Savings

Tax breaks will not apply on the following items:

• Any clothing item that costs more than $60
• School supplies that cost more than $15
• Books that are not otherwise exempt
• Personal computers that cost more than the $750 cutoff or those that are intended for commercial use
• Rental or leases on any items that would be eligible if purchased outright
• Repairs or alterations to eligible items

Tax breaks will not be given on eligible items that are purchased at entertainment complexes, theme parks, public lodging establishments or airports.

For more information about the sales tax holiday, visit the Florida Department of Revenue online.

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