These are the tax holidays coming up for Floridians, pending DeSantis approval

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As part of the 2024-2025 Florida state budget, lawmakers passed a $1.5 billion tax relief package.

The package is set for consideration by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has routinely been strongly in favor of giving Floridians as much relief from various sorts of taxes as possible.

Below is a list of the major tax holidays Floridians can expect, should DeSantis sign off on them:

• Back-to-school sales tax holiday: This would last 14 days, from July 29, Aug. 11. It applies to the following:
  • Clothing, footwear, and backpacks costing $100 or less
  • School supplies costing $50 or less
  • Learning aids costing $30 or less
  • Personal computers or computer accessories, and software, costing $1,500 or less
• Disaster preparedness sales tax holiday: This would last for 14 days, twice during hurricane season, from June 1-14, and Aug. 24-Sep. 6. Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 1. Below are items that would apply:
  • Flashlights and lanterns $40 or less
  • Reusable ice $20 or less
  • Radios $50 or less
  • Tarps, ground anchors, tie-down kits $100 or less
  • Coolers, portable power banks $60 or less
  • Batteries, fuel tanks $50 or less
  • Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors $70 or less
  • Generators $3,000 or less
  • Additional items related to evacuating pets
• “Freedom Month” summer sales tax holiday: This would run from July 1-31. The below items would apply:
  • Admissions to music, sporting, cultural events
  • Tickets to movies, museums
  • Tickets to theater and dance performances
  • State park passes
  • Use of fitness facilities
  • Water and boating equipment and supplies
  • Camping products
  • Fishing products
  • Electric scooters
  • Outdoor supplies like sunglasses, sunscreen, grills, pool chemicals, supplies and parts
• “Skilled worker” tools sales tax holiday: This would run from Sep. 1-7. The below items would apply:
  • Hand tools $50 or less
  • Power tools $300 or less
  • Work boots $175 or less
  • Other safety equipment
  • Shop lights, toolboxes, belts
  • Plumbing, electric equipment
• Toll relief: Lawmakers decided to continue providing toll relief, this coming year to the tune of at least $450 million.
  • Applies to certain “high-use” customers from April 2024 to March 2025
  • Those eligible must engage in 35 or more toll transactions per month, and they would receive a 50% credit in return
• Property insurance relief: Lawmakers passed legislation giving one year of relief for residential property insurance holders. The cost of the insurance premium tax is covered.
  • On top of that, one year was given for relief on the insurance premium tax for flood insurance policies.
  • Both applies to policies written between Oct. 1, 2024 and Sept. 30, 2025.
• Hillsborough County sales tax holiday: Applying only to Hillsborough, lawmakers approved $182 million in local sales tax relief for Hillsborough thanks to a court ruling on the formerly in place county transportation tax.

All of these holidays are in addition to prior years establishing other categories of items as being permanently tax-free. In 2023, lawmakers and DeSantis made family items like baby and toddler items tax free, along with other products vital for seniors.