Statewide sales tax exemption gives Floridians a full month of back-to-school bargains including clothes, school supplies, and computers
Florida – Florida shoppers may look forward to some big savings this August. The state’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday will run from Friday, August 1, 2025, to Sunday, August 31, 2025. Families, children, and teachers may stock up on important things without having to pay sales tax for a month, just in time for the new school year.
This yearly event, which takes place every August, offers a number of tax breaks to help with the costs of going back to school. The tax holiday only applies to certain types of clothes that cost $100 or less, such as shoes, backpacks, diaper bags, wallets, and purses. Items that cost $50 or less for school supplies, learning aids, or puzzles are likewise tax-free.
This year’s tax holiday is special since it includes personal computers and some computer equipment for home use, as long as the entire cost is $1,500 or less. That means that when you buy laptops, displays, and keyboards for students or family members, you might save a lot of money on taxes. This is perfect timing for technology updates before school starts.
But the tax break doesn’t cover everything. Clothing that costs more than $100, school supplies that cost more than $50, and things like briefcases, watches, jewelry, umbrellas, and different kinds of sports gear are still taxable. Computers that are meant for work, as well as video gaming consoles and smartphones, do not qualify. Shoppers should also know that tax breaks don’t apply to anything bought in hotels, airports, theme parks, or entertainment complexes.
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All retailers in the state must take part; there is no way to opt out. When they file their taxes, they must report all qualifying sales as tax-exempt. Stores are also told not to break separate groups of items to take advantage of the exception. For instance, an item must be sold as a set in order to be eligible.
Online purchases are also eligible for the tax holiday. You can get items from a remote seller or marketplace throughout the holidays as long as you place the order and it is accepted for immediate shipment in August, even if it doesn’t arrive until later.
There are additional rules about buying things on layaway and with gift cards. If you buy something with a gift card during the tax-free period, it is eligible for the exemption, no matter when you bought the card. You can put things on layaway or have them delivered during the tax holiday time and they will be qualified.
There are also explicit rules for returns and exchanges. After the holiday, a consumer can trade in an item for the same item in a different size or color without having to pay taxes. If the item you traded in is no longer qualified for exemption, though—like if you get a more expensive replacement—then sales tax will apply.
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As the school year quickly approaches, Florida families are encouraged to take full advantage of this extended chance to save. Residents can go to the Florida Department of Revenue’s official website to see a full list of things that qualify and the restrictions that apply to them.
