Tax-Free Hurricane Readiness Supplies: Now's The Time To Stock Up

FLORIDA — From the moment they opened their doors Saturday morning, Carolann Nixon, manager of the Ace Hardware store on Bloomingdale Avenue in Brandon, said there was a steady stream of single-minded customers intent on stocking up on hurricane supplies.

With the official start of hurricane season on Wednesday, hurricane preppers are eager to take advantage of the state's offer to stock up on hurricane supplies without paying taxes through June 10.

Clenching lists of eligible tax-free items to purchase, customers perused the shelves, grabbing batteries, flashlights, lanterns and sand bags.

"We're definitely working our butts off today," said Nixon, chuckling, as the cash registers rang up sales.

The amount of savings customers will see during the tax-free holiday depends on the amount of supplies they're purchasing and the cost of those supplies, she said.

But Nixon said she's seeing customers save from $5 to $100. And with the current high inflation rate combined with supply shortages, even a few dollars can help a family, she said.

Among the biggest sellers by far, said Nixon, are batteries, flashlights and cases of water to help see families through extended power outages and disconnected municipal water lines.

The Florida Department of Revenue said the two-week tax-free holiday period ending Friday, June 10, includes:

• Reusable ice (ice packs)
• Any portable self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank or gas) including flashlights, candles and lanterns
• Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers
• Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only (excluding automobile and boat
• batteries): AA-cell and AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, 9-volt
• Two-way and weather band radios (powered by battery, solar or hand-crank) Eligible light sources and radios qualify for the exemption even if electrical cords are included in the purchase.
• Nonelectric food storage coolers
• Portable power banks
• Added this year are smoke detectors, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors
• Tarpaulins (tarps) or other flexible waterproof sheeting
• Ground anchor systems
• Tie-down kits
• Bungee cords
• Ratchet straps
• Portable generators (selling for $1,000 or less) used to provide light or communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage.

Plus, through the efforts of Palm Harbor Girl Scout Troop No. 60601, Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, convinced the Legislature to add pet supplies to the eligible list of tax-free items.

Last spring, the seven Scouts in the troop began brainstorming ideas for their Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest merit award for middle school-aged girls. Since they collectively have 15 pets, the girls decided to launch an online petition drive to get pet items included on the hurricane tax-free list.

Troop leader Kristen Crawford even took the girls to Tallahassee to address the House about their proposal. They found a champion in Sprawls who submitted a bill to the House that was approved during the 2022 legislative session.

Pet items exempt from taxes during the tax-free holiday this year include:

• Cans or pouches of wet pet food selling for $2 or less per can or pouch or the equivalent if sold in a box or case
• Collapsible or travel-sized food or water bowls selling for $15 or less per item
• Manual can openers selling for $15 or less per item
• Cat litter pans selling for $15 or less
• Pet waste disposal bags selling for $15 or less per package
• Hamster or rabbit substrate selling for $15 or less per package
• Leashes, collars and muzzles selling for $20 or less
• Pet pads selling for $20 or less per box or package
• Cat litter weighing 25 or fewer pounds and selling for $25 or less
• Bags of dry pet food weighing 15 or fewer pounds and selling for $30 or less
• Pet beds selling for $40 or less
• Portable kennels or pet carriers selling for $100 or less

There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased tax-free.

Not included during the tax-free holiday are hotel fees, airline tickets, tickets to theme parks or entertainment complexes, commercial purchases of eligible pet evacuation supplies, rental or repairs on any of the qualifying tax-free items, items purchased with gift cards and items purchased with rain checks after the tax-free holiday.

For a complete list of items, click here.