Starting Today, all Florida residents can avoid paying sales tax while putting together their disaster-preparation kits and supplies for the 2020 hurricane season.
The list of tax-free items includes everything from coolers to generators,
Local, state and federal officials want to make sure Florida residents are prepared for this year. Hurricane season will start Monday, June 1st and it continues through Nov. 30.
FEMA’s storm-prep checklist includes:
Flashlights, batteries, portable radios, multi-purpose tools, emergency fuel, personal hygiene items, cell-phone chargers, emergency contact lists and copies of personal documents, along with supplies of water, food and medication for three days to two weeks, depending on different scenarios involving evacuation or riding out the disaster at home.
State lawmakers in Florida included the disaster-preparation tax holiday in a $47.7 million tax package (HB 7097) approved in March of this year. The Hurricane Prep, Sales- tax holiday will last through this Thursday, June 4th
During the period, shoppers will be able to avoid paying sales taxes on items previously mentioned , as well as other items, like: reusable ice packs that cost $10 or less; flashlights and lanterns costing $20 or less; gasoline and diesel fuel containers costing $25 or less. coolers and batteries costing $30 or less; and radios and tarps costing $50 or less.
Perhaps, the biggest-ticket item included in the tax- holiday:" portable generators that cost $750 or less.
The sales-tax holiday bill passed in March of this year, which was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis also includes a three-day back-to-school tax holiday on school supplies, clothes and computer equipment. That holiday will be held from Friday, Aug. 7th through Sunday, Aug. 9th.