Florida’s Back to School Sales Tax Holiday is Here: Know Before You Go!

Florida’s popular Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is here for an entire month! The entire month of August 2025 means many back-to-school items are sales tax free, or exempt, to help your family re-stock school supplies for the upcoming school year! This year we get a whole month to enjoy the savings.

The National Retail Federation estimates that the average American family will spend at least $890 on back-to-school items this year, approximately $25 more than last year’s record of $864.35, marking a new high. This estimate includes what they spend on clothing, school supplies, and electronics, but still… gulp. But, here’s the even bigger gulp. That number is $168 more since 2019, a significant increase since the start of the pandemic.

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What is Sales Tax Free?

Before you head out the door to shop, there are a few sales tax holiday limitations to keep in mind. The sales tax holiday applies to certain school supplies priced at $50 or less per item and to certain clothing, footwear, and accessories priced at $100 or less per item. 

The sales tax exemption for learning aids and jigsaw puzzles that are $30 or less is back as well. “Learning aids” are flashcards or other learning cards, matching or other memory games, puzzlebooks and search-and-find books, interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teach reading or math skills, and stacking or nesting blocks or sets.

Examples of Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles that are exempt:

  • Flashcards or other learning cards
  • Matching or other memory games
  • Puzzle books and search-and-find books
  • Interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teach reading or math skills
  • Stacking or nesting blocks or sets

It also applies to the sales of personal computers and other electronic items you might need for e-learning. You will not be taxed on the first $1,500 of the sales price of a personal computer.

READ: See a complete list of what qualifies from the Florida Department of Revenue

What is NOT Exempt?

Notice the keyword ‘certain’. Clothing items $100 or less that qualify include shirts, pants, shorts, socks, baby clothes, diapers, youth bicycle helmets, even fanny packs, and snow ski suits, but items that do not qualify include jewelry, watches, and snow ski boots.

You’ll find most of the traditional school supplies items on the tax-exempt list–as long as they are $50 or less per item, but you’ll still pay taxes on items like masking tape, computer and printer paper, staples, and correction pens.

The tax holiday, however, does not apply to these items:

  • Any item of clothing with a sales price of more than $100.
  • Any school supply item with a sales price of more than $50.
  • Books that are not otherwise exempt.
  • Computers and computer-related accessories with a sales price of more than $1,500.
  • Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes.
  • Rentals of any eligible items.
  • Repairs or alterations of any eligible items.
  • Sales of any eligible items within a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.

A big question we often hear is whether the tax holiday applies to purchases made online. The answer is yes, eligible items are exempt if purchased within the tax holiday timeframe, even if delivery is made after the tax holidays. You can read more Frequently Asked Questions here, especially if you plan on using manufacturer’s coupons.

MORE Sales Tax Holidays in Florida:

2025 Florida Sales Tax Holidays

  • Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: month long savings August 1 – 31, 2025
  • Year‑Round Exemptions on Hurricane‑Prep Essentials
  • New Fall Hunting/Fishing/Camping Tax Holiday: sales tax break for outdoor gear is expected September 8 through December 31, 2025