This week, Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic Calabro, weighed in on the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday beginning Mon., July 24.
“Quality education is key to child development and positioning future generations of Floridians for success. It is critical that the state invest in initiatives, like the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, that will ensure students and teachers alike are adequately equipped for a productive school year. Florida TaxWatch thanks Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, not only for reinstituting this timely tax relief, but also for expanding it to four weeks total and thereby giving families additional opportunities to save their hard-earned tax dollars,” said Calabro.
According to DeSantis’ budget highlights, the $1.3 billion tax relief package in Florida’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 state budget contains funding for more than 15 sales tax holidays and exemptions, including two, two-week Back to School Sales Tax Holidays, one prior to the start of the fall semester (Mon., July 24-Sun., Aug. 6, 2023) and one prior to the start of the spring semester (Mon., Jan. 1-Sun., Jan. 14, 2024). Together, they will save Florida families over $160.6 million by applying to items such as personal computers and accessories up to $1,500, clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $50, and learning aides and jigsaw puzzles up to $30.
These sales tax holidays accompany the ongoing 14-week Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday (Mon., May 29-Mon., Sept. 4, 2023), the one-year extension of the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday (Sat., July 1, 2023-Sun., June 30, 2024), the one-year Gas Ranges and Cooktops Sales Tax Holiday (Sat., July 1, 2023-Sun., June 30, 2024), and the two-year Home Hardening Sales Tax Exemption (Fri., July 1, 2022-Sun., June 30, 2024).
