Florida’s tax-free holiday ends Sunday. Here’s what you need to know
Get your credit card ready. From Aug. 4-6, Florida shoppers won’t have to pay the usual sales tax on many items ranging from personal computers to backpacks and T-shirts. In Miami-Dade, that means savings of 7 percent, or $52.50, on the most expensive computers allowed. In Broward, the savings is 6 percent.
During the state’s 2017 back-to-school tax-free holiday, personal computers priced up to $750 are exempt — a significant change from 2016, when they weren’t included.
Generally speaking, the tax exemption applies to most school supplies selling for $15 or less per item; most clothing and footwear for $60 or less per item; and personal computers and accessories for noncommercial use selling for $750 or less per item. Look for sales; many local retailers are offering discounts to get you in the door.
Online purchases qualify if ordered during the tax-free holiday for immediate delivery, even if they arrive after the holiday. So do lay-away items — even if the final payment doesn’t occur until after the holiday ends.
But some items you think might quality don’t — and vice versa:
On the GO list
▪ Lunch boxes
▪ Poster paper
▪ Diapers (child and adult)
▪ Ski suits (but not ski boots)
▪ Swimsuits
▪ Blank computer disks
▪ Flash drives and back-up hard drives
▪ Scanners
▪ Antivirus software
▪ Earbuds
On the NO list
▪ Most athletic equipment and gear, including protective pads
▪ Printer and computer paper
▪ Cellphones
▪ Batteries
▪ Clothing alterations
▪ Duffel bags and luggage
▪ Jewelry
▪ Surge protectors
▪ Gaming systems
▪ MP3 players
▪ Standalone fax machines
More fine print:
▪ Youth bicycle helmets within the price limits are tax free, but adult helmets are not.
▪ Many items — such as formal wear — qualify if purchased but not if they are rented.
▪ Any item purchased in a theme park, hotel or airport does not qualify.
▪ When it comes to Buy One, Get One Free items, the prices can’t be averaged to qualify. Each individual item has to fall below the required price limit.
▪ The tax-free period begins at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 4 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 6.
This story was originally published August 3, 2017 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Florida’s tax-free holiday ends Sunday. Here’s what you need to know."