As Jacksonville enters another year of hurricane season, Florida consumers are getting some financial relief. New permanent, year-round sales tax exemptions have just gone into effect, expected to save residents over $160 million annually on essentials ranging from products like batteries to bicycle helmets. And in true Sunshine State fashion, sunscreen is now tax-free, too.
These savings come in addition to the estimated $217 million Floridians will save each year during the annual August back-to-school sales tax holiday.
Both are part of a wide-ranging tax bill approved by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
What is the tax relief bill for Florida 2025?
The 2025 tax relief bill for Florida is House Bill 7031, which makes several sales tax exemptions permanent. Items that were previously only tax-free during limited-time sales tax holidays — such as disaster preparedness supplies and outdoor activity gear — are now permanently exempt from sales tax as of August 1, 2025. These exemptions no longer require annual approval by the Florida Legislature.
How much money does this tax relief bill cost the government?
While consumers benefit from savings during tax holidays, state and local governments experience a reduction in sales tax revenue. For instance, the back-to-school sales tax holiday is projected to reduce state revenue by $167.7 million and local government revenue by $49.3 million.
Is there a sales tax holiday for hurricane disaster preparedness in Florida 2025? What supplies are tax-exempt?
Yes, however, these items are now permanently exempt from sales tax year-round. Here’s the list:
The biggest consumer savings for sales tax on these items is $75.7 million a year for batteries, according to a Florida House of Representatives analysis.
Since 2006, the Florida Legislature has enacted 11 short-term sales tax holidays related to disaster preparedness. The new legislation makes the sales tax exemptions permanent and year-round.
Are any outdoor or recreational supplies tax-exempt?
Yes, permanent year-round sales tax exemptions also went into effect Aug. 1 for some recreational items. Such exemptions previously had been short-term under what the state called “freedom summer” sales tax holidays.
Now permanently exempt from sales tax are:
Florida has had ‘freedom’ sales tax holidays since 2021 on certain recreation items and activities.
What’s the ‘Second Amendment sales tax holiday’? When does it come into effect?
The tax bill creates a temporary sales tax holiday from Sept. 8 through Dec. 31 for various outdoor recreation items commonly used in hunting, fishing and camping, saving consumers an estimated $44.8 million. DeSantis is calling it a “Second Amendment” sales tax holiday. Among the items covered are:
Contributing: Dave Berman is the business editor at FLORIDA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ready for hurricane season? Here’s a list of tax-free items you may have overlooked
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea and Dave Berman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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