Shopping for back-to-school? More items than you might think will be tax-free

Shoppers will get a 6% tax cut on items of all kinds starting Monday as part of Florida’s “back to school” sales tax holiday.

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The initiative runs from July 20 through Aug. 20, and effects a broad range of items one might buy leading up to the first day of school — not just backpacks and kids clothing.

Many of the items come with a cost threshold. For instance, the holiday applies only to clothing items less than $100. Some of the items exempted aren’t always associated with “back to school” purchases, such as any laptop under $1,500, any handbag under $100 or all pants under $100.

Sales tax is Florida’s biggest generator of state revenue, accounting for about 39%. Property taxes, the second-biggest category, make up roughly 35% of state revenue.

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The first tax holiday passed into law in 1998, targeted at clothing and footwear priced at $50 or less. The most recent version of the holiday, which is set to reoccur every year, passed in 2025 as part of a tax relief package backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Here’s a rundown of all categories of goods that are exempt as well as some examples of items. For a complete list, website for a complete list.

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Clothing, footwear, bags and more: $100 or less per item

• Backpacks
• Shirts
• Pants
• School uniforms
• Jackets
• Shoes and socks
• Handbags
• Purses and wallets
• Diaper bags

School supplies: $50 or less per item

• Binders and notebooks
• Notebook paper
• Pencils, pens, markers and crayons
• Folders
• Lunch boxes
• Scissors, glue, other school supplies

Learning aids: $30 or less per item

• Flashcards
• Matching and memory games
• Various categories of books
• Toys designed to teach reading and math skills

Personal computers and qualifying accessories: $1,500 or less per item

• Desktop and laptop computers
• Tablets and e-books
• Monitors and keyboards
• Computer microphones and speakers
• Headphones