Florida's Sales Tax Rate and What It Covers

Florida's state sales tax is 6 percent. When you buy most goods in a store, that 6 percent gets added to your bill at checkout. However, your actual total tax can be higher because counties add their own local sales tax on top of the state rate — this ranges from 0.5 percent to 2 percent depending on which county you're in, bringing your total to somewhere between 6 and 8 percent.

The 6 percent state rate applies to tangible goods — things you can touch and take home. Clothing, groceries, electronics, furniture, and gasoline all get taxed. Services like haircuts, car repairs, and plumbing work are generally not taxed under Florida law, though there are exceptions. Prepared food from restaurants is taxed, but unprepared groceries you buy to cook at home are not.

Key Takeaways

  • Florida's state sales tax is 6 percent, but your county adds between 0.5 and 2 percent on top, so your total tax ranges from 6 to 8 percent depending on where you shop.
  • Tangible goods like clothing and electronics are taxed, while most services like haircuts and repairs are not.
  • Groceries you buy raw and cook yourself are not taxed, but prepared food from restaurants is taxed.
  • You pay sales tax at the point of sale — it's added to your bill at checkout, not calculated separately on your receipt.

How County Tax Adds to Your State Tax

Each Florida county sets its own additional sales tax rate within limits set by state law. Broward County, for example, adds 1 percent to the state rate, making your total 7 percent. Miami-Dade County adds 1 percent as well. Smaller counties like Union County add only 0.5 percent. You can find your county's rate by searching "[your county name] sales tax rate" online, or by asking a cashier — they know the local rate because they ring it in every day.

The county tax goes into a local fund, usually for infrastructure, schools, or public services. The state tax goes to the state general revenue fund. Both are collected at the same moment — the cashier doesn't separate them on your receipt, but the money flows to different places after the sale.

What Is and Isn't Taxed in Florida

Taxed items include clothing, shoes, furniture, appliances, books, toys, gasoline, and most other physical products. Prepared food — pizza from a restaurant, deli sandwiches, coffee from a café — is taxed. Alcohol and tobacco products are taxed at the regular rate (though tobacco also has a separate excise tax). Medications you buy over the counter are not taxed, but vitamins and supplements are.

Not taxed are unprepared groceries (raw meat, vegetables, bread, milk, eggs), most professional services (doctor visits, legal information, accounting), and certain items like prescription drugs and medical equipment. Haircuts and salon services are not taxed. Car repairs are not taxed. Rent is not taxed. If you're unsure whether something is taxable, the Florida Department of Revenue publishes a detailed list online, or you can call them at 850-488-6800.

Sales Tax on Online and Out-of-State Purchases

If you order something online from a company that has a physical presence in Florida — a warehouse, store, or office — Florida sales tax applies to your order. If you order from a company with no Florida location, you typically don't pay Florida sales tax at checkout, though the rules have shifted in recent years as more online retailers have opened distribution centers in the state.

Amazon, for example, collects Florida sales tax on most orders because Amazon has warehouses in Florida. A small retailer shipping from another state may not. The safest assumption is that if you're buying from a major national retailer, you'll pay tax. If you're buying from a small out-of-state shop, you probably won't — though that retailer may be required to report the sale to the state, and you may owe use tax on your state income tax return (though this is rarely enforced for individual purchases).

Who Collects and Pays the Tax

The seller — the store, restaurant, or online retailer — collects the sales tax from you and holds it temporarily. They then send it to the Florida Department of Revenue, usually monthly. You don't send the tax in yourself; it's the seller's responsibility to collect it, report it, and pay it on time. If a seller fails to collect or pay sales tax, the state can pursue them, not you.

As a buyer, your only job is to pay the tax when you're asked. You don't fill out forms or contact the state. The tax appears on your receipt, and that's the end of your involvement. If you're a business owner, the rules are different — you'd need to register with the state and file returns — but as a consumer, you straightforward pay what's on the register.

Sales Tax Exemptions and Special Cases

Certain groups and purchases are exempt from sales tax in Florida. Nonprofit organizations can get an exemption certificate that lets them buy goods without paying tax, as long as the purchase is for the organization's charitable work. Resellers — people who buy goods to resell them — don't pay tax on their wholesale purchases if they have a resale certificate. Farmers buying equipment for agricultural use may may have access to for an exemption.

If you're buying something for a nonprofit you work for, or if you're a reseller, you'll need to provide the seller with an exemption certificate before checkout. The seller won't collect tax if you show the certificate. You can't claim an exemption just by asking — the certificate has to be on file. If you think you may have access to for an exemption, contact the Florida Department of Revenue to request one.

How to Find Your County's Exact Tax Rate

Your total sales tax rate depends on your county. To find it, search online for "[county name] Florida sales tax rate" — for example, "Hillsborough County Florida sales tax rate." The county's official website or the Florida Department of Revenue website will show you the breakdown: state rate plus local rate equals your total.

You can also call your county's tax collector's office — the number is on the county website. Or straightforward ask a cashier at any store in your county; they know the rate because they use it every transaction. If you shop in multiple counties, remember that the rate changes at the county line. A purchase in one county may have a different tax than the same purchase across the border.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay sales tax on groceries in Florida?

No, not on unprepared groceries. Raw meat, vegetables, bread, milk, eggs, and other foods you buy to cook at home are not taxed. However, prepared food — a rotisserie chicken from the deli counter, a sandwich from a restaurant, or a coffee from a café — is taxed at the full rate.

What's the difference between state and county sales tax?

Florida's state sales tax is 6 percent and goes to the state government. Your county adds between 0.5 and 2 percent on top, and that money stays in your county for local services. Both are collected at the same time, but they fund different budgets. Your total tax is the sum of both.

Do I have to pay sales tax on online orders?

If the online retailer has a physical location in Florida, yes — they collect Florida sales tax. If they have no Florida presence, you typically don't pay tax at checkout, though rules vary by retailer and have changed in recent years as more companies open Florida warehouses.

Can I get a sales tax refund?

No. Sales tax is final at the point of sale. If you return an item, the store refunds the tax along with the purchase price. If you overpay by mistake, you'd need to contact the seller, not the state — the state doesn't handle individual refund claims.

Are services like haircuts and car repairs taxed?

No. Most services in Florida are not taxed. Haircuts, car repairs, plumbing, legal information, and doctor visits are not subject to sales tax. Only tangible goods and prepared food are taxed under Florida law.