Florida’s 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday: Complete guide to save big on school supplies

Florida families can once again save hundreds of dollars during the state’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday, running from July 20 through Aug. 20, 2026

The 32-day, tax-free shopping period offers significant savings on essential items families need for the new school year, with no sales tax due on qualifying purchases

• Clothing: Shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, uniforms, and athletic wear
• Bags: Backpacks, handbags, diaper bags and fanny packs
• Accessories: Wallets, belts, ties, and graduation caps and gowns

Notable exclusions: Briefcases, suitcases, watches, jewelry, skis, swim fins, roller blades and any clothing item over $100

Tax-free school supplies include:

• Pens, pencils, erasers and crayons
• Notebooks, binders and folders
• Construction paper, poster board and markers
• Scissors, glue, tape and staplers
• Lunch boxes and composition books
• Computer disks (blank CDs only)

• Flashcards and learning cards
• Jigsaw puzzles and puzzle books
• Interactive books and educational toys
• Memory and matching games
• Stacking blocks and educational sets

Qualifying computers:

• Laptops, desktops, and tablets
• Electronic book readers
• Calculators

Tax-free accessories:

• Keyboards, mice, and monitors (without TV tuner)
• Printers and ink cartridges
• Modems, routers and cables
• Educational and productivity software
• Storage devices and memory cards

Important: Computers must be for personal, non-commercial use. Business purchases don’t qualify

The tax exemption is not available at:

• Theme parks and entertainment complexes
• Hotels and public lodging establishments
• Airports

Online Shopping: Items ordered online during the holiday period qualify for the exemption, even if delivered after Aug. 20

Exchanges: If you buy an eligible item during the holiday and later exchange it for the same item in a different size or color, no tax applies to the exchange

Rain Checks: Items purchased with rain checks issued during the holiday period remain tax-free

Gift Cards: Using gift cards to buy eligible items during the holiday qualifies for the exemption, regardless of when the gift card was purchased

Layaway: Items qualify if you take delivery during the holiday period or put eligible items on layaway during the holiday (even if final payment comes later)

Create a shopping list of needed items and their estimated costs to maximize savings. A family spending $500 on qualifying items could save $35 in sales tax

Since the holiday lasts a full month, you have time to shop around for the best deals on qualifying items

Remember the price thresholds:

• Clothing/bags: $100 per item
• School supplies: $50 per item
• Learning aids/puzzles: $30 per item
• Computers/accessories: $1,500 per item

Items normally sold together must be purchased as a set. You can’t split up sets to meet price thresholds

Florida retailers have no option to opt out of the sales tax holiday. All qualifying purchases must be processed tax-free during the designated period

Dealers should report exempt sales appropriately on their sales tax returns and ensure point-of-sale systems are updated for the holiday period

Click here for the full list of items and learn more about the tax holiday

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