According to the Florida Department of Revenue, the 2018 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott. This sales tax holiday begins Friday, June 1, 2018 and extends through Thursday, June 7, 2018.
During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. However, the sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.
Items that are always exempt include:
- Bottled water (unflavored, uncarbonated)
- Canned food, including meats, vegetables, fruits, peanut butter and other nonperishable items
- First aid kits
- Prescription and non-prescription medications (all Rx and most over the counter are exempt)
- Baby food and formulas
Additional qualifying items include:
- Selling for $10 or less:
- Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)
- Selling for $20 or less:
- Any portable self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank or gas):
- Candles
- Flashlights
- Lanterns
- Selling for $25 or less:
- Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers
- Selling for $30 or less:
- Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only (excluding automobile and boat batteries
- AAA-cell
- C-cell
- 6-volt
- AA-cell
- D-cell
- 9-volt
- Coolers and ice chests (food-storage; nonelectrical)
- Selling for $50 or less:
- Bungee cords
- Ground anchor systems
- Radios (powered by battery, solar, or hand-crank)
- Ratchet straps
- Tie-down kits
- Visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths and other flexible waterproof sheeting
- Selling for $750 or less:
- Portable generators used to provide light or communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage
View the 2018 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Flyer
Visit Florida Department of Revenue website
