Florida Expands Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday to Full Month of August

Florida families will see major relief this back-to-school season thanks to a newly expanded and now permanent month-long sales tax holiday, announced by Governor Ron DeSantis. Starting August 1 and running through August 31, 2025, Floridians will not pay state sales tax on a wide variety of school-related and tech items, marking a significant expansion of what had previously been a shorter-term holiday. This change, enacted as part of the state’s $2 billion tax relief package, aims to reduce the financial burden of back-to-school shopping while boosting retail activity statewide.

During the holiday, shoppers can purchase a range of qualifying items tax-free. This includes school supplies priced at $50 or less per item, clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per item, and learning aids or educational toys priced at $30 or less. Even bigger-ticket items qualify, such as personal computers and related accessories priced at $1,500 or less, provided they’re intended for non-commercial personal use. That means families can purchase laptops, tablets, monitors, printers, flash drives, and other essential tools without paying sales tax. However, smartphones, video game consoles, and similar entertainment electronics are excluded from the holiday.

This updated policy is part of a broader restructuring of Florida’s sales tax holidays under House Bill 7031. Instead of multiple short-term holidays scattered throughout the year, Florida will now feature two extended seasonal tax holidays: the newly permanent back-to-school holiday in August and a separate Hunting, Fishing, and Camping Sales Tax Holiday set to run from September 8 through December 31, 2025. These changes are designed to simplify the system while delivering more impactful savings to residents. The back-to-school holiday alone is expected to generate $450 million in tax savings as part of the larger budget plan for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Governor DeSantis emphasized that the month-long holiday gives families more flexibility to plan their purchases without having to rush into a narrow time window. Retailers across the state, including big-box chains and local stores, are also preparing to offer special promotions aligned with the tax holiday. According to Lorena Holley, vice president and general counsel of the Florida Retail Federation, the extension of the holiday is expected to significantly boost foot traffic and help families stretch their budgets during one of the most financially demanding times of the year.

While the program has received widespread support, some tax policy experts caution that sales tax holidays tend to disproportionately benefit higher-income households, who are better positioned to make large purchases during promotional periods. Still, supporters argue that Florida’s expanded holiday provides more consistent and predictable relief than in previous years—especially for essential purchases like laptops, uniforms, and educational supplies that directly support student learning and preparedness.

Florida’s effective sales tax rate can exceed 7% in many counties when local surtaxes are included, making the potential savings substantial. For example, a family spending $1,500 on a tax-exempt laptop and $500 on school supplies and clothing could save more than $140 during the month of August. These savings, paired with strategic shopping, make the extended holiday a welcome development for both families and small businesses.

In summary, Florida’s newly restructured Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday now runs every August, offering substantial, month-long savings on essential school items, clothing, tech, and more. The move signals a long-term shift in how the state delivers tax relief and reaffirms Florida’s commitment to supporting families during key seasonal spending periods.