Shopping for back-to-school? More items than you might think will be tax-free
Shoppers will get a 6% tax cut on items of all kinds starting Monday as part of Florida’s “back to school” sales tax holiday.
The initiative runs from July 20 through Aug. 20, and effects a broad range of items one might buy leading up to the first day of school — not just backpacks and kids clothing.
Many of the items come with a cost threshold. For instance, the holiday applies only to clothing items less than $100. Some of the items exempted aren’t always associated with “back to school” purchases, such as any laptop under $1,500, any handbag under $100 or all pants under $100.
Sales tax is Florida’s biggest generator of state revenue, accounting for about 39%. Property taxes, the second-biggest category, make up roughly 35% of state revenue.
The first tax holiday passed into law in 1998, targeted at clothing and footwear priced at $50 or less. The most recent version of the holiday, which is set to reoccur every year, passed in 2025 as part of a tax relief package backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Here’s a rundown of all categories of goods that are exempt as well as some examples of items. For a complete list, visit Florida’s Department of Revenue website for a complete list.
Clothing, footwear, bags and more: $100 or less per item
- Backpacks
- Shirts
- Pants
- School uniforms
- Jackets
- Shoes and socks
- Handbags
- Purses and wallets
- Diaper bags
School supplies: $50 or less per item
- Binders and notebooks
- Notebook paper
- Pencils, pens, markers and crayons
- Folders
- Lunch boxes
- Scissors, glue, other school supplies
Learning aids: $30 or less per item
- Flashcards
- Matching and memory games
- Various categories of books
- Toys designed to teach reading and math skills
Personal computers and qualifying accessories: $1,500 or less per item
- Desktop and laptop computers
- Tablets and e-books
- Monitors and keyboards
- Computer microphones and speakers
- Headphones