OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The start of the new school year is just around the corner with classes resuming in most North Central Florida school districts on Monday, August 12. So, families across the state are preparing for unavoidable shopping.
To ease the financial burden, Florida provides a back-to-school sales tax holiday which begins today and goes through Sunday, Aug. 11.
The annual tax holiday is a chance for students and their parents to stock up on essential school supplies, clothing, and even electronics without paying the 6% sales tax.
From kindergarten to college, the tax-free shopping covers a wide range of items from backpacks and binders to calculators and computers.
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To save as much as possible, make a shopping list in advance and compare prices at different stores as many stores are expected to offer additional discounts.
Before you head to the store, we have the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
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What qualifies?
- Clothing & footwear up to $100 per item including backpacks, fanny packs, purses and clothing including shirts, pants, dresses, shoes
- School supplies up to $50 per item including binders, crayons, notebooks, folders, markers, pens, pencils, erasers, poster board, rulers, scissors, staplers, glue, and more
- Learning aids & jigsaw puzzles up to $30 per item including interactive books, flash cards, memory games, blocks and puzzles
- Personal computers & accessories up to $1,500 total including calculators, desktop computers, laptops, tablets, monitors, keyboards, mice, or other non-commercial accessories
What does not qualify?
- Watches, watch bands, jewelry, umbrellas
- Items exceeding the price limits referenced above
- Cellphones, video game consoles, routers, recreational software, office furniture
- Books that are not overwise exempt
- Excludes skis, swim fins, roller blades, and skates
- Rentals or repairs of eligible items
- Sales within theme parks, entertainment complexes, public lodging establishments, or airports
Other Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: If I purchase an item that costs more than the limits stated above, do I owe sales only on the difference that exceeds the limit?
Answer: No. The item is not exempt, and you’ll pay the sales tax on the entire price of the item.
Question: Is there a limit on the number of items than can be purchased tax-free?
Answer: No. The exemption is based on the sales price of each item, not on the number of items.
Question: How exactly are learning aids defined?
Answer: Learning aids are things like flash cards, memory cards, puzzle books, search-and-find books, and toys intended to teach reading or math skills including stacking or nesting blocks.
Question: If I buy a package set of items that contains both taxable and tax-exempt items, how is the sales tax calculated?
Answer: Sales tax will be calculated on the sales price of the entire package or set.
Question: If the store is offering a “buy one, get one free” or “buy one, get one for a reduced price” special on coats (for example) and I purchase one for $200 and get another for free, will the transaction be tax-free because I’m effectively paying $100 for each coat?
Answer: No. The total price of items advertised as BOGO or for a reduced price cannot be averaged. In this case, the purchase of the coats is taxable.
Question: What if the item I want is out of stock and the store issues me a rain check, can I use it after the sales tax holiday to purchase the item tax-free?
Answer: No. The purchase must be made during the sales tax holiday to be tax-exempt. When a rain check is issued, a sale has not occurred.
Question: If I place an item on layaway, is it eligible for the tax exemption?
Answer: Ye. A layaway is when an item is set aside for a customer who makes a deposit and agrees to pay the balance over a period of time and receives the item once the payment is complete. Qualifying items placed on layaway during the sales tax holiday are tax-exempt, even if final payment is made after the tax holiday.
Question: Does the tax holiday apply to items I purchase online?
Answer: Yes. Items purchased online are exempt when the order is accepted by the company during the sales tax holiday for immediate shipment, even if the delivery is made after the tax holiday.
Question: What if my question is not answered here?
Answer: Contact the Florida Department of Revenue at 850-488-6800.
For the complete list of tax-free items, check the Florida Department of Revenue website.