The first day of school in Florida is approaching fast and shopping is a little less expensive with the start of the back-to-school sales tax holiday.
Or is it?
The back-to-school sales tax holiday is intended to help families save money on eligible school supplies, clothing, computers and other technology before classes begin.
But does it really help parents save a significant amount of money on school supplies?
We decided to find out by comparing the total cost of a school supply list issued for a fifth-grade classroom in Palm Beach County along with a few other “necessities” not included but commonly purchased for a new school year.
Shop Amazon for school supplies
The basic state sales tax is 6% in Florida. Each county can issue an additional “discretionary sales surtax,” which ranges from 0.5 to 2 percent, according to the Florida Department of Revenue. We based our calculations on a 7% sales tax.
Here’s what we found out. But first …
When is Florida’s 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday?
Florida’s 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday for school supplies, including clothing and computers, runs from July 20 through Aug. 20.
What school supplies will be tax-exempt this 2026-2027 school year?
The following items will be tax exempt from July 20-Aug. 20:
Go to floridarevenue.com for a complete list of all items included in the sales tax holiday, along with exceptions.
How much do school supplies cost?
Here’s what we did to find out how much school supplies would cost for the parents of a fifth-grader in Palm Beach County, using the school supply list posted online by Coral Reef Elementary. The school did say the supplies were recommended, not mandatory.
After adding up those supplies, we also threw in other typical purchases not on the list, such as a backpack, some new school clothes and shoes, etc. Hey, we’re parents, too, and we know how much kids grow and how tough they are on clothes and other items!
Special note: Prices were from Amazon. If you aren’t a Prime member, shipping costs may negate online savings, but obviously there are local options available, which are listed below.
So let’s add everything up:
Subtotal for recommended supplies: $160.13
We added:
Subtotal for added supplies: $199.24
Total, not including tax: $359.37
Does Florida school sales-tax holiday really save you money?
Adding a 7% sales tax to the list of supplies above would bring your total to $384.52.
Without the sales tax, your cost would be $359.37.
Bottom line: Savings during the Florida school sales-tax holiday, for one child, would be $25.15. Essentially, that’s about the price for three McDonald’s Happy Meals, with a little change left over.
Yes, there are cheaper options out there for school shopping
Before it’s brought up, yes, there are cheaper options out there. We used the links provided by the school on Amazon, but you can find cheaper rolls of generic paper towels and hand sanitizer out there.
School clothes, shoes, and backpacks are some of the most expensive items in back-to-school shopping, but we recognize there’s something to starting fresh for a new year.
You’ll also note we did not add a computer to the list of school supplies to purchase, but if you need one, that’s when the savings can really add up.
Desktops, laptops and tablets that cost $1,500 or less and meet the criteria can be purchased minus sales tax until Aug. 20. Sorry, cellphones and video game consoles are excluded.
So look for sales and space out your shopping to help save even more.
Can you buy tax-free school supplies online in Florida?
Yes, as long as your shipping address is in the state of Florida, the tax-free policy applies. But, there’s a caveat.
The cost of shipping is applied to the cost of the item. So, if you add a $95 pair of jeans to your shopping cart and the cost of shipping is $10, the item is now $105 and would not apply under the limit of $100 for clothing items.
Shop tax-free school supplies
Where to do tax-free back-to-school shopping in Florida
Tax-free shopping is a statewide policy in Florida, so all stores are waiving the 6% added state-tax. Here are some places to do your tax-free shopping ahead of the 2026-27 school year:
Top stores for all-around back-to-school shopping
Top stores for back-to-school supplies
Top stores for back-to-school tech
Top stores for back-to-school clothes
When does school start in Florida? See list by county
Thirty-eight of Florida’s 67 counties will start the 2026-2027 school year on the earliest possible date in the state, Monday, Aug. 10, with the others following shortly the same week.
Special note: Links to school calendars often change. Here’s a state list of homepages for each Florida school district.
Why aren’t school calendars same for all Florida counties?
The decision on what days schools should be closed is made by individual school districts.
Florida school districts develop their academic calendars with input from a variety of sources, including staff, families and calendar committees.
The final decision is made by each county’s school board.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://news-journalonline.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: How much do you save during Florida school tax holiday? We break it down
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud and Trisha Easto, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cheryl McCloud and Trisha Easto, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
