Save Money On Back-To-School Essentials

We are a few weeks away from the back-to-school season. With the current events happening in Florida and all over the world, especially the ongoing threat of COVID-19, we all have to get used to the new normal. Whether you are going for the traditional, face-to-face classes or shifting into online classes or distance learning, one thing is inevitable: the need for back-to-school essentials such as apparel, footwear, accessories, school supplies and more.

One of the best things about living in Florida and being a Florida resident, aside from the beautiful community and free from income taxes, Florida is also offering a tax-free weekend for the back-to-school season. 2020 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis to help us save money on back-to-school essentials. With Florida's back-to-school tax-free shopping weekend, you can get additional savings on apparel, footwear, and other school supplies in which eligible items are exempt from the usual 6 percent sales tax. The back-to-school tax-free shopping weekend in Florida will be starting from Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 9 where sales tax is waived on items and merchandise that can be used by our Florida students.

Here are the eligible items included in the Florida back-to-school tax-free weekend:

• Selected school supplies that cost $15 or less per item are included in the tax-free shopping weekend. These are items that include lunch boxes, notebooks, pens, pads, and more.
• Clothing or apparel, footwear, and some accessories are included in the Florida back-to-school tax-free weekend too that cost $60 or less per item. These are items or merchandise that include handbags, backpacks purses, wallets, ties, fanny packs, diaper bags but excluding briefcases, suitcases, and other garment bags.
• If you or your children are shifting from traditional, face-to-face classes to attending online classes or distance learning due to COVID-19, you can also benefit from the Florida tax-free weekend. Florida is also offering sales tax-free for the first $1000 on personal computers, laptops, and accessories, too. 

Here are the following items that are excluded from the back-to-school tax-free weekend:

• Books, such as textbooks or workbooks, are not otherwise exempt unless stated in the current tax-free items.
• Rentals or leases of any eligible items such as printers, photocopiers are also excluded from the tax-free weekend.
• Any repairs or alterations of any eligible items are also excluded.
• Sales of any eligible items in other places such as theme parks, entertainment complex, public lodging establishments, airport, and the likes won't be having the tax-free shopping for back-to-school items. 

For more information on the Florida Back-to-School Tax-Free weekend and more details about qualifying items, you can review the Department of Revenue’s Tax Information Publication (TIP) on the 2020 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. Happy shopping!