It's tax-free time in Florida for school supplies. See what items qualify

Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
Updated ·5 min read

Let the back-to-school shopping begin.

School is scheduled to start in almost every Florida district in two weeks, on Monday, Aug. 12, which means students and parents are looking for classroom lists and planning their annual shopping trips.

Stores have been promoting school supplies for a few weeks now, but many may have been waiting until Florida's tax-free week, which started Monday, July 29.

Here's what you should know about supplies you can buy tax free, along with when school starts in each Florida county.

When does school start in Florida for 2024-2025?

Fifty-nine out of Florida's 67 counties will start the 2024-2025 school year on the first possible date — Aug. 12. By law, the earliest schools can start in the state is Aug. 10, which falls on a Saturday this year.

Florida school districts set their own start dates. Students in Miami-Dade County won't start until Aug. 15, the latest start date in the state.

Florida's tax-free holiday for school supplies

Save on back-to-school supplies during Florida's sales tax holiday July 29 to Aug. 11, 2024.
Save on back-to-school supplies during Florida's sales tax holiday July 29 to Aug. 11, 2024.

Florida's back to school 2024 sales tax holiday runs from Monday, July 29 through Sunday, Aug. 11, according to the Florida Department of Revenue.

School supplies you can buy tax free in Florida

School supplies, such as these seen in WalMart, are showing up as the start of the 2024-2025 school year approaches.
School supplies, such as these seen in WalMart, are showing up as the start of the 2024-2025 school year approaches.

Here are the types of school supplies you can purchase tax over the next two weeks:

  • Personal computers or personal computer-related accessories purchased for non-commercial home or personal use having a sales price of $1,500 or less. Personal computers include:

    • Calculators

    • Desktops

    • Electronic book readers

    • Handhelds

    • Laptops

    • Tablets

    • Tower computers

The term does not include cell phones, video game consoles, digital media receivers, or devices that are not primarily designed to process data.

  • Personal computer-related accessories include:

    • Keyboards

    • Mice

    • Modems

    • Monitors

    • Nonrecreational software

    • Other peripheral devices

    • Personal digital assistants

    • Routers

  • Items having a sales price of $100 or less per item, including:

  • Clothing

    • All footwear, excluding skis, swim fins, roller blades, and skates

    • Any article of wearing apparel intended to be worn on or about the human body, excluding watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, and handkerchiefs

  • Wallets or bags, including:

    • Backpacks

    • Diaper bags

    • Fanny packs

    • Handbags

Briefcases, suitcases, and other garment bags are excluded.

  • School supplies having a sales price of $50 or less per item, including:

    • Binders

    • Cellophane tape

    • Compasses

    • Composition books

    • Computer disks

    • Construction paper

    • Crayons

    • Erasers

    • Folders

    • Glue or paste

    • Legal pads

    • Lunch boxes

    • Markers

    • Notebooks

    • Notebook filler paper

    • Pencils

    • Pens

    • Poster board

    • Poster paper

    • Protractors

    • Rulers

    • Scissors

    • Staplers and staples used to secure paper products

  • Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles having a sales price of $30 or less, including:

    • Flashcards or other learning cards

    • Interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teach reading or math skills

    • Matching or other memory games

    • Puzzle books and search-and-find books

    • Stacking or nesting blocks or sets

Detailed list of what's included in Florida's school sales-tax holiday

Is there a limit on the number of school supplies you can buy tax free?

No. The sales-tax exemption is based on the sales price of each item, not on the number of items purchased.

What items are not tax exempt during the school sales-tax holiday?

The 2024 Florida back-to-school sales tax holiday does not apply to:

  • Any item of clothing with a sales price of more than $100.

  • Any school supply item with a sales price of more than $50.

  • Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of more than $30.

  • Books that are not otherwise exempt.

  • Computers and computer-related accessories with a sales price of more than $1,500.

  • Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes.

  • Rentals of any eligible items.

  • Repairs or alterations of any eligible items.

  • Sales of any eligible items within a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodgingestablishment, or airport.

Do you have to pay sales tax for school supplies purchased online?

Items purchased online are exempt when the order is accepted by the company during the sales-tax holiday for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the tax holiday, the Florida Department of Revenue said.

What if you bought an item and were charged sales tax? What can you do?

Take your receipt to the business and request a refund of the tax collected in error, the Florida Department of Revenue said.

Provide the business with a copy of TIP No. 24A01-03 or direct the seller to floridarevenue.com.

Have more questions? Here's where to go for answers

If you have a question about a specific item not listed in TIP No. 24A01-03, contact the Florida Department of Revenue at 850-488-6800.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Tax free Florida 2024: Back-to-school shopping, sales-tax holiday