Florida officials recently visited a swim school in Ormond Beach to discuss the importance of water safety for children. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez announced a new program that will provide vouchers to low-income families for swimming lessons for children aged 4 and younger. This initiative aims to reduce the number of drowning incidents involving young children in Florida.
As the 2024-2025 school year approaches, residents in Florida are gearing up for the start of the academic term. Fifty-nine out of Florida’s 67 counties will begin the school year on the earliest possible date, which is August 12. By law, schools in the state cannot start before August 10, which falls on a Saturday this year. This leaves residents with less than a week to finish their school shopping. Fortunately, Florida’s tax-free week is still ongoing for students, parents, and educators, providing an opportunity to save money on essential school supplies.
Florida’s tax-free holiday for school supplies will end on Sunday, August 11, according to the Florida Department of Revenue. During this period, certain items are exempt from sales tax, including personal computers and accessories, clothing, footwear, school supplies, learning aids, and jigsaw puzzles. The exemption is based on the sales price of each item, rather than the number of items purchased, allowing shoppers to take advantage of the savings on multiple items.
Personal computers or personal computer-related accessories with a sales price of $1,500 or less are eligible for tax exemption. This category includes items such as laptops, tablets, desktops, keyboards, and monitors. Additionally, clothing, footwear, and school supplies priced at $100 or less per item are also tax-free. School supplies such as binders, notebooks, pens, pencils, rulers, and more fall under this category, making it easier for families to stock up on essential items for the upcoming school year.
While there is no limit on the number of tax-exempt items that can be purchased, certain items are not eligible for the tax exemption. These include clothing items priced over $100, school supplies over $50, learning aids and jigsaw puzzles over $30, books that are not otherwise exempt, and computers and accessories over $1,500. Additionally, items purchased online during the tax-free holiday period are exempt from sales tax if the order is accepted for immediate shipment, even if delivery occurs after the holiday.
If shoppers find that they were charged sales tax on eligible items during the tax-free holiday, they can request a refund from the business. Providing the business with a copy of the relevant documentation or directing them to the Florida Department of Revenue’s website can help facilitate the refund process. Overall, Florida’s tax-free holiday for school supplies offers an opportunity for residents to save money on essential items as they prepare for the upcoming school year.