Florida has two sales-tax holidays, one for school supplies and the other for hurricane-preparedness items.
Back to School:
The Legislature annually sets the dates of the sales-tax holiday for school supplies, which usually is held for 10 days in August.
In Manatee County, consumers will not have to pay the 6.5 percent sales tax on most clothing items costing $50 or less and certain school items priced at $10 or less.
The list of exempt items includes school supplies such as calculators, crayons, rulers and scissors.
The exemption does not apply to books, clothing or school supplies purchased within hotels, airports, theme parks or similar entertainment complexes.
Hurricane season:
The Legislature annually sets the dates of the sales-tax holiday for hurricane-preparedness items, which usually is held for 12 days in June.
Under the legislation, no state or local sales tax is collected on hurricane preparedness items, including:
* Flashlights and other portable, self-powered light sources - $20 or less
*Portable radios, two-way radios and weather-band radios - $75 or less
*Tarps - $50 or less
*Gas or diesel fuel containers - $25 or less
*Batteries - $30 or less (AAA, AA, C and D cell, and 6 and 9 volt batteries)
*Non-electrical food storage coolers - $30 or less
*Portable generators - $1,000 or less
*Carbon monoxide detectors - $75 or less
*Storm shutter devices - $200 or less
The exemption does not apply to items purchased within hotels, airports, theme parks or similar entertainment complexes.
Source: Florida Department of Revenue
