Last month, the Florida Legislature finalized a tax package and Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that would provide permanent sales tax exemptions and sales tax holidays for consumers to save while stocking up on essentials. Consumers benefit from the savings starting this Friday, August 1, when the new law HB 7031 is effective.
For years, the Florida Legislature adopted a series of sales tax holidays to help consumers save as they prepared for hurricane season or back-to-school. HB 7031 makes many of these traditions permanent. Tax savings includes:
Back-to-School: Florida families will benefit from a permanent sales tax holiday each August on back-to-school essentials like backpacks, notebooks, pencils and other school supplies.
Disaster Preparedness: Many disaster preparedness items will now be tax free year-round including preparedness supplies like batteries, fuel tanks, portable generators, tarps and ground anchors or tie-down kits.
Health and Safety Items: Floridians can now benefit from savings on health and safety items like fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, sunscreen, insect repellent, life jackets, bicycle helmets and similar items are exempt from sales tax throughout the year.
Florida State Park Admission: Floridians can now purchase admission to Florida’s State Parks without taxes at checkout.
Gold, Silver and Platinum Bullion: The bill permanently eliminates sales tax on purchases of gold, silver and platinum bullion.
HB 7031 also creates a new temporary tax holiday for avid outdoorsmen:
Hunting, Fishing and Camping: Avid outdoorsmen will enjoy a tax holiday from September 8 to December 31, 2025 on camping, fishing and hunting supplies.
Governor DeSantis signed the tax package into law on Thursday, June 30.
