Shoppers along the Gulf Coast have just hours left to take advantage of Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday, which wraps up at midnight tonight. For families in the Florida Panhandle — and for South Alabama residents who regularly cross the state line to shop in Pensacola and other nearby Florida communities — the deadline means a last chance to save on clothing, school supplies and select electronics before classes get into full swing.
The tax-free period began July 20 and runs through August 20, giving Florida shoppers a full month to stock up on qualifying items without paying the state’s sales tax. Once the clock strikes midnight, standard sales tax rates resume on all purchases.
What Qualifies for the Tax Exemption
The holiday covers a wide range of everyday back-to-school essentials, each with its own price cap. Clothing, footwear and accessories priced at $100 or less per item are exempt, including shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, boots and accessories such as belts, hats and scarves.
Bags priced at $100 or less also qualify, including backpacks, diaper bags, fanny packs and handbags — though briefcases, suitcases and garment bags are excluded from the exemption.
Traditional school supplies carry a lower threshold of $50 or less per item. That category includes binders, notebooks, folders, crayons, markers, pencils, pens, scissors, rulers, glue, poster board and staplers, among other classroom staples.
Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles priced at $30 or less are also covered, including flashcards, memory games, puzzle books and interactive electronic books or toys designed to teach reading or math skills.
Computers and Electronics Included Too
Bigger-ticket items get a break as well. Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use are exempt from sales tax if priced at $1,500 or less. That includes desktops, laptops, tablets, tower computers, calculators and electronic book readers.
Qualifying accessories include keyboards, mice, modems, monitors, routers, personal digital assistants and nonrecreational software. The exemption does not extend to cellphones, video game consoles, digital media receivers, or devices not primarily designed to process data. Furniture, recreational software and monitors with a built-in television tuner are also excluded.
Where the Exemption Doesn’t Apply
Not every purchase qualifies, even if the item itself is on the exempt list. The tax break does not apply to the rental or repair of any covered items, and it does not apply to sales made inside a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.
For shoppers hoping to squeeze in a last-minute trip, the exemption applies at the point of sale, so purchases must be completed before midnight to qualify. After tonight, standard Florida sales tax will once again apply to clothing, school supplies and electronics purchases statewide.