Want to save money? Computers, clothes included in Florida tax-free holiday Jan.1-14

Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
·4 min read

Thinking about buying a new computer or maybe some new school clothes for Christmas?

You might want to wrap an IOU and save a little money.

A second back-to-school sales tax holiday is coming. For the first time, the Florida Legislature earlier this year approved two tax holidays to help parents save on school supplies for the 2023-2024 school year.

Here is all the information you need to know.

When is Florida tax free week for school supplies?

Florida back to school sales tax holiday for 2023-2024 school year.
Florida back to school sales tax holiday for 2023-2024 school year.

The second back-to-school sales tax holiday will run from Jan. 1 through Jan. 14.

You might be able to take advantage of post-Christmas sales to save even more money.

The first tax holiday took place right before school began, from July 24 through Aug. 6

Summary of school supplies that will be tax free in Florida

  • Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less.

  • Most school supplies selling for $50 or less.

  • Clothing, footwear and accessories selling for $100 or less.

  • Computers and related accessories selling for $1,500 or less (when purchased for non-commercial and personal use).

What school supplies will be exempt from sales tax in Florida?

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

  • Pens

  • Pencils

  • Erasers

  • Crayons

  • Notebooks

  • Notebook filler paper

  • Legal pads

  • Binders

  • Lunch boxes

  • Construction paper

  • Markers

  • Folders

  • Poster board

  • Composition books

  • Poster paper

  • Scissors

  • Cellophane tape

  • Glue or paste

  • Rulers

  • Computer disks

  • Staplers

  • Staples used to secure paper products

  • Protractors

  • Compasses

  • Calculators

Personal computers, accessories included in school sales-tax holidays

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

  • Electronic book readers

  • Laptops

  • Desktops

  • Handhelds

  • Tablets

  • Tower computers

Personal computers do not include cellphones (even if you use the calculator or use Google for research), video game consoles, digital media receivers, or devices that are not primarily designed to process data.

Personal computer-related accessories include:

  • Keyboards

  • Mice

  • Personal digital assistants

  • Monitors

  • Other peripheral devices

  • Modems

  • Routers

  • Nonrecreational software, regardless of whether the accessories are used in association with a personal computer base unit.

Not included as tax exempt are furniture or systems, devices, software, monitors with a television tuner, or peripherals that are designed or intended primarily for recreational use.

Will any clothes be tax free in Florida for back-to-school shopping?

Yes, any article of wearing apparel selling for $100 or less and intended to be worn on or about the human body — excluding watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, and handkerchiefs — will be tax free.

That also includes all footwear, except for skis, swim fins, roller blades and skates.

Get backpacks tax free if they cost less than $100

Also tax free will be items selling for less than $100, including:

  • Wallets or bags

  • Handbags

  • Backpacks

  • Fanny packs

  • Diaper bags

Briefcases, suitcases and other garment bags are excluded from the tax holiday.

Some learning aids, puzzles will be tax free

Learning aids having a sales price of $30 or less are included in the tax-free holiday.

“Learning aids” were defined as flashcards or other learning cards, matching or other memory games, puzzle books and search-and-find books, interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teachreading or math skills, and stacking or nesting blocks or sets.

Examples of tax-exempt learning aids include:

  • Electronic books

  • Flashcards

  • Interactive books

  • Jigsaw puzzles

  • Learning cards

  • Matching games

  • Memory games

  • Puzzle books

  • Search-and-find books

  • Stacking or nesting blocks or sets

  • Toys that teach reading or math skills

If an item costs more than the holiday limit, do you pay sales tax only on the amount over the limit?

If you purchase an item that would otherwise qualify for the sales tax exemption but costs morethan the limit, the item is not exempt, you must pay sales tax on the entire price of the item.

Is there a limit on the number of exempted items that can be purchased during the sales tax holiday?

No. The exemption is based on the sales price of each item, not on the number of itemspurchased.

HB 7063: Details on Florida tax-free holidays

Do back-to-school sales tax holidays also apply to items purchased online?

Yes. Items purchased online are exempt when the order is accepted by the company during thesales-tax holidays for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the tax holiday.

Theme parks, airport and lodging establishments exempt from tax holiday

The tax exemptions provided in this section do not apply to sales within a theme park or entertainment complex as defined in 509.013 of Florida Statutes, within a public lodging establishment or in an airport.

Some businesses can opt out of the sales tax holiday but must post notice

The tax exemptions apply at the option of the business if less than 5 percent of the dealer's gross sales of tangible personal property in the prior calendar year consisted of items that would be exempt.

If a business chooses not to participate in the tax holiday, it must notify the Florida Department of Revenue by July 17 for the first holiday and Dec. 23 for the second holiday.

A copy of that notice that must be placed in a "conspicuous location" at the business.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida back-to-school sales tax holiday. Save money on these supplies