Florida's statewide sales tax is 6 percent, but your actual rate depends on your county
Florida charges a base sales tax of 6 percent on most goods and services. However, most counties add their own local tax on top of that, which means the total rate you pay at checkout ranges from 6 percent to 7.5 percent depending on where you shop. The rate is set by your county, not by the state, so two purchases of the same item in different counties can have different final prices.
The county tax exists because Florida allows local governments to collect an additional 0.5 to 1.5 percent sales tax to fund schools, infrastructure, and other services. This is why a $100 purchase in Miami-Dade County (7 percent total) costs more in tax than the same purchase in Nassau County (6.5 percent total).
Key Takeaways
- Florida's state sales tax is 6 percent, but most counties add 0.5 to 1.5 percent on top of that for a total between 6 and 7.5 percent.
- The county you are in determines your final rate, so you need to know your county's local tax rate, not just the state rate.
- Food bought at a grocery store is taxed at 6 percent (state only), while prepared food at a restaurant is taxed at the full county rate.
- Clothing and shoes under $100 per item are exempt from sales tax in Florida, regardless of county.
Sales tax rates by Florida county
Here are the combined state and local rates for each Florida county:
| County | Total Rate |
|---|---|
| Alachua | 7.5% |
| Baker | 7% |
| Bay | 7.5% |
| Bradford | 7% |
| Brevard | 7.5% |
| Broward | 7% |
| Calhoun | 7% |
| Charlotte | 7.5% |
| Citrus | 7.5% |
| Clay | 7.5% |
| Collier | 7% |
| Columbia | 7.5% |
| DeSoto | 7% |
| Dixie | 7% |
| Duval | 7% |
| Escambia | 7.5% |
| Flagler | 7.5% |
| Franklin | 7.5% |
| Gadsden | 7% |
| Gilchrist | 7.5% |
| Glades | 7% |
| Gulf | 7% |
| Hamilton | 7% |
| Hardee | 7% |
| Hendry | 7% |
| Hernando | 7.5% |
| Highlands | 7% |
| Hillsborough | 7.5% |
| Holmes | 7% |
| Indian River | 7% |
| Jackson | 7% |
| Jefferson | 7% |
| Lafayette | 7% |
| Lake | 7.5% |
| Lee | 7.5% |
| Leon | 7.5% |
| Levy | 7.5% |
| Liberty | 7% |
| Madison | 7% |
| Manatee | 7.5% |
| Marion | 7.5% |
| Martin | 7% |
| Miami-Dade | 7% |
| Monroe | 7% |
| Nassau | 6.5% |
| Okaloosa | 7.5% |
| Okeechobee | 7% |
| Orange | 6.5% |
| Osceola | 6.5% |
| Palm Beach | 7% |
| Pasco | 7.5% |
| Pinellas | 7.5% |
| Polk | 7.5% |
| Putnam | 7.5% |
| St. Johns | 7% |
| St. Lucie | 7% |
| Santa Rosa | 7.5% |
| Sarasota | 7.5% |
| Seminole | 7.5% |
| Sumter | 7.5% |
| Suwannee | 7% |
| Taylor | 7% |
| Union | 7% |
| Volusia | 7.5% |
| Wakulla | 7% |
| Walton | 7.5% |
| Washington | 7% |
Nassau, Orange, and Osceola counties have the lowest combined rate at 6.5 percent. Most other counties charge either 7 percent or 7.5 percent. The difference between counties is small but adds up on larger purchases — a $500 item costs $35 in tax at 7 percent but $37.50 at 7.5 percent.
What items are taxed and what items are not
Not everything you buy in Florida is subject to sales tax. Groceries — items like milk, bread, meat, and produce bought at a supermarket — are taxed at the state rate of 6 percent only, with no county tax added. This is true across all 67 counties.
Clothing and shoes under $100 per item are exempt from sales tax in Florida. This means a $75 pair of shoes costs $75, but a $150 pair costs $150 plus tax. The exemption applies to the individual item, not your total purchase, so you could buy five $99 shirts and pay no tax on any of them.
Prepared food — meals at restaurants, takeout, deli items, and hot food — is taxed at your full county rate. A sandwich from a deli counter is taxed differently than the same sandwich bought pre-packaged from a shelf. Beverages, including soda and coffee, are also taxed at the full rate.
Most other goods and services are taxed at your county's full rate, including electronics, furniture, gasoline, and haircuts.
How sales tax is calculated at checkout
When you buy something in Florida, the cashier or website applies your county's total sales tax rate to the purchase. If you buy a $50 item in Broward County (7 percent), you pay $50 plus $3.50 in tax for a total of $53.50. The tax is calculated on the pre-tax price, not added on top of other taxes.
Online purchases follow the same rule: if you buy from a retailer that has a physical location in Florida or meets other state requirements, Florida sales tax is added based on the county where the item is being shipped. If you order something online to be delivered to Miami-Dade County, you pay Miami-Dade's 7 percent rate, even if the retailer is based elsewhere.
Tax-free shopping periods in Florida
Florida offers a back-to-school tax-free week each year, usually in early August. During this period, clothing, shoes, and school supplies under certain price limits are sold without sales tax. The exact dates and item limits change each year, so check the Florida Department of Revenue website closer to August for the current year's details.
There is also a disaster preparedness sales tax holiday in early June, when items like batteries, flashlights, and generators are sold tax-free. These holidays are the only times when sales tax is temporarily removed statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I pay sales tax on online purchases from out-of-state retailers?
If the retailer has a physical presence in Florida or meets other state requirements, yes — Florida sales tax is added to your order based on your delivery address. If the retailer has no Florida presence and does not meet the state's requirements, you may not see tax added at checkout, but you may owe use tax on that purchase when you file your state income tax return.
Is sales tax the same in all Florida cities?
No. Sales tax is set by county, not by city. Two cities in the same county have the same rate, but cities in different counties have different rates. For example, Tampa and St. Petersburg are in Hillsborough County and both charge 7.5 percent, while Jacksonville is in Duval County and charges 7 percent.
Can I get a refund of sales tax if I return an item?
Yes. When you return an item and receive a refund, the sales tax you paid is refunded as well. The refund amount is based on the tax rate that was charged when you made the original purchase.
Do I have to pay sales tax on services like haircuts or car repairs?
Yes. Most services in Florida, including haircuts, car repairs, and home repairs, are subject to your county's full sales tax rate. The tax is added to the service charge, not just to any parts or materials used.
What is the difference between sales tax and use tax?
Sales tax is charged when you buy something in Florida. Use tax is a tax on items you buy outside Florida and bring into the state, or items you buy from out-of-state retailers that do not charge sales tax. You owe use tax at the same rate as sales tax in your county, though most people do not report it unless they make large purchases.