TAMPA, FL (352today.com) – The month of July will be a tax freedom holiday in Florida on a long list of items to make summer fun more affordable.
On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he would be signing the Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday initiative.
It will make items such as fishing supplies, outdoor recreation equipment, admissions to state parks and, museums sales tax free.
The governor also announced that admission to Florida State Parks will be free all four days of Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-27, as a kickoff to the summer season.
“We’ve got the best state park system in the United States and we’re proud of that and part of that is because we have great natural resources,” said DeSantis during a news conference in Tampa. “We want people to be able to get outside and recreate. That’s really what it’s all about. I’ve got young kids at home. My wife and I, we, want them outside doing things – not just trying to find the AppleTV remote. We hide it and they find it. That’s just the way it is.”
“Florida’s 175 award-winning state parks are second to none,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “I encourage all of Florida’s residents and visitors to take advantage of these extra savings and discover the unique experiences the real Florida has to offer.”
The Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday will remove the sales tax on the following items:
Boating and water activity supplies:
- Goggles and snorkels ($25 or less)
- Pool toys ($35 or less)
- Coolers, Life jackets, Paddles ($75 or less)
- Inflatable water tubes and floats, Wakeboards ($150 or less)
- Paddleboards, Surfboards ($300 or less)
- Canoes, Kayaks ($500 or less)
Fishing Supplies:
- Bait and Tackle ($5 or less for individual items, $10 or less for multiple items sold together)
- Tackle boxes ($30 or less)
- Reels, Rods ($75 or less)
Camping Supplies:
- Flashlights ($30 or less)
- Sleeping bags, Camping chairs ($50 or less)
- Tents ($200 or less)
Outdoor Supplies:
- Sunscreen ($15 or less)
- Water bottles ($30 or less)
- Bicycle helmets ($50 or less)
- Outdoor grills ($250 or less)
- Bicycles ($500 or less)
Admissions to events or performances scheduled to be held between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024:
- Live music events
- Live sporting events
- Movies to be shown in a movie theater
- Ballets
- Plays
- Fairs
- Festivals
Admissions purchased for any of the following:
- Museums, including annual passes
- State parks, including annual passes
- Season tickets for ballets, plays, music events, and musical theater performances