Plant City, Fla. (September 8, 2025) – The state of Florida has initiated its first-ever “Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday,” suspending the six percent state sales tax on a variety of hunting, fishing, camping, and firearms-related items from September 8 through December 31, 2025, under the newly enacted Fiscal Year 2025–2026 budget.
Scope of Exemptions
The sales tax suspension applies to a broad array of products, including:
Firearms and accessories: pistols, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, holsters, grips, sights, stocks, and cleaning kits.
Bow-hunting gear: bows, crossbows, and related accessories.
Outdoor equipment:
Camping lanterns and flashlights priced at $30 or less
Camping stoves, hammocks, chairs, and sleeping bags priced at $50 or less
Tents priced at $200 or less
Bait/tackle: up to $5 individually or $10 if packaged
Tackle bags/boxes: up to $30
Fishing rods and reels: up to $75 individually or $150 when sold as a set.
Additional Provisions and Incentives
As part of the new legislation, the state will also offer heavily discounted or free services at public shooting ranges during select dates. These include:
- Half-priced range passes statewide in honor of constitutional freedoms and America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Free range passes for veterans on Veterans Day, November 9.
A discounted “five-year Gold sportsman license” offered at $250—half of its usual $500 cost.
Context and Fiscal Background
- This tax holiday is part of Florida’s broader tax relief strategy encapsulated in the FY 2025–2026 budget, which provides approximately $2 billion in statewide tax relief. The budget includes permanent repeals of the Business Rent Tax and multiple sales tax holidays, collectively delivering $450 million in savings to Florida families
- State economists estimate that the tax holiday could generate substantial savings for consumers. One report projects Florida shoppers may save as much as $44.8 million through these exemptions
- Comparative Context.
This level of tax relief is notably broader than similar initiatives in other states. Unlike many that limit Second Amendment sales tax holidays to short weekends, Florida’s spans nearly four full months. While states such as Mississippi and South Carolina have held limited-duration tax holidays for firearms and related items, Florida’s extended approach stands out.
