Upcoming Alterations in Florida's Sales Tax Holiday for the Year 2025: Crucial Information to Familiarize Yourself With
Florida residents can look forward to a series of changes in sales tax relief as a result of the state's 2025-26 budget. The new budget, which came into effect on July 1, 2025, includes several notable sales tax exemptions, new sales tax holidays, and the elimination of the business rent sales tax.
Permanent Sales Tax Exemptions
Starting July 1, 2025, a range of disaster preparedness items and safety-related products are now permanently sales tax-free in Florida. These items include certain batteries, portable generators, fuel containers, tarps, and tie-down kits, as well as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, life jackets, bicycle helmets, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Access to Florida state parks and sales of gold, silver, or platinum bullion are also now tax-free year-round.
New Sales Tax Holidays
The new budget has established several new sales tax holidays covering various categories. A notable change is the expanded back-to-school sales tax holiday, aimed at easing the cost of school supplies and clothing. The holiday runs through the end of August 2025 and covers clothing and school supplies, with families expected to benefit from the exemption, given the high average spending on these items in Florida.
Other tax holidays include a notable firearms and ammunition holiday, as well as a hurricane preparedness items holiday, making related purchases temporarily tax-free during the specified periods in 2025.
Elimination of Commercial Rent Sales Tax
For the business community, a significant change is the elimination of state sales tax on commercial property leases, effective October 1, 2025. This move eliminates what was the last state-level tax on commercial rent, which was seen as a major obstacle for economic growth.
Sales Tax Rates Remain Unchanged
Despite the new exemptions and holidays, the statewide Florida sales tax rate remains at 6%, with local surtaxes typically adding around 1%, making total rates commonly just above 7% in many counties. This rate structure continues unchanged in 2025.
In Summary
The key sales tax-related measures in Florida’s 2025-26 budget are permanent exemptions on disaster preparedness and safety items, several new sales tax holidays including an expanded back-to-school holiday throughout August, and the elimination of the commercial rent tax. The state has adopted a simpler approach, with just two major sales tax holidays instead of multiple brief ones. The popular back-to-school tax-free holiday in Florida is now permanent each August. The new law updates and changes the usual sales tax holidays.
References
- Florida Budget 2025-26
- Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
- Florida Sales Tax Holidays
- Florida's 2025-26 Sales Tax Changes
Starting from July 1, 2025, Florida residents can expect permanent sales tax exemptions on a variety of items, including disaster preparation products, safety products, and admission to state parks, as well as the year-round tax-free purchase of gold, silver, or platinum bullion.
The new sales tax holidays include an expanded back-to-school holiday for school supplies and clothing, running through August 2025, as well as a firearms and ammunition holiday, and a hurricane preparedness items holiday.
For businesses, a significant change is the elimination of state sales tax on commercial property leases, effective October 1, 2025. Despite these new exemptions and holidays, the statewide Florida sales tax rate remains at 6%, with local surtaxes typically adding around 1%, making total rates commonly just above 7% in many counties.
