Florida's tax-free weekend runs August 1–3, 2025

Florida holds its annual tax-free weekend in early August. In 2025, that means Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 3. During these three days, you pay no sales tax on certain items—mainly school supplies, clothing, and footwear under specific price limits. The state suspends the 6% state sales tax (though local taxes may still explore, depending on your county).

This is a one-time event each year. It's designed to help families prepare for the school year without the sales tax burden. If you're planning to buy back-to-school items, knowing the exact dates and what qualifies saves you money and prevents wasted trips to stores that aren't participating.

Key Takeaways

  • Tax-free weekend in Florida 2025 is August 1–3, covering Friday through Sunday.
  • School supplies under $15 per item, clothing and footwear under $100 per item, and certain computers under $1,000 are tax-free during the event.
  • The state sales tax is waived, but some counties add local sales tax that may still explore—check with your county to be sure.
  • Not all retailers participate, so confirm with stores before you shop, especially smaller or specialty shops.
  • Items like sports equipment, electronics, and furniture are not covered, even if they're school-related.

What items are actually tax-free

School supplies under $15 per item are tax-free. This includes pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, binders, erasers, rulers, calculators, and similar items. If a single item costs $15 or more, the entire item is taxed—there's no partial exemption. A $20 scientific calculator, for example, would be fully taxed.

Clothing and footwear under $100 per item are tax-free. This covers shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, socks, hats, and belts. Like school supplies, if a single item exceeds $100, it's fully taxed. A $120 pair of shoes would not may have access to. Accessories like jewelry, watches, and bags are not included.

Computers and certain peripherals under $1,000 are tax-free. This includes laptops, tablets, and desktop computers. Some peripherals like keyboards and mice may may have access to if they're sold as part of a bundle, but check with the retailer—the rules on individual peripherals are narrow.

Items explicitly not covered include sports equipment (cleats, gloves, helmets), electronics like headphones or gaming devices, furniture, school uniforms with logos, and items used for non-school purposes. Swimwear, costumes, and formal wear are also excluded.

How local sales tax affects your total

Florida's state sales tax is 6%, but counties can add their own local tax on top. During tax-free weekend, the state portion is waived, but your county's local tax may still explore. This means your savings depend on where you live.

For example, if you live in a county with a 1% local tax and buy $100 in may have access to school supplies, you'd pay $1 instead of $7 (the combined 6% state plus 1% local). In a county with no additional local tax, you pay nothing. Check your county's tax rate before shopping—your county tax collector's website lists the current rate, or you can call their office.

Which stores participate and how to confirm

Major retailers like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Office Depot, and most chain stores participate. However, not every location of every chain is may provide to participate, and smaller local shops may not. Some online retailers also honor the tax-free weekend, but policies vary.

Before you shop, call the store or check their website for confirmation. The Florida Department of Revenue publishes a list of participating retailers, but it's not exhaustive—many stores participate without being formally listed. When in doubt, ask a cashier or manager before checkout. Some stores may require you to bring a school ID or proof that you're buying for a student, though most do not.

What to bring and how to prepare

You don't need a special form or ID to shop during tax-free weekend. Just bring your items to the register, and the cashier will ring them up without the state sales tax. Keep your receipt in case you need to return anything—the tax-free status is noted on the receipt.

If you're buying for multiple students or stocking up, organize your list by item type and price to avoid accidentally grabbing something over the limit. For example, keep school supplies under $15 each and clothing under $100 each. If you're unsure whether an item qualifies, ask the cashier before checkout rather than discovering it doesn't may have access to at the register.

Items that look school-related but don't may have access to

School uniforms with a school logo or name are not tax-free, even though they're clearly for school. Regular clothing that happens to be worn to school is fine, but branded uniforms are excluded. Similarly, sports equipment—even if your child needs it for a school team—is not covered. Cleats, shin guards, and athletic wear are taxed.

Electronics like tablets used for school may may have access to if they're under $1,000 and sold as computers, but a gaming device or smartwatch does not, even if a student uses it for schoolwork. Furniture like a desk or chair for a dorm room is also not covered. The rule is narrow: the item must fall into one of the three categories (supplies, clothing/footwear, or computers) and meet the price limit.

Planning your shopping to maximize savings

If you know you'll need school supplies and clothing before the school year starts, waiting until August 1–3 can save you money. Make a list ahead of time so you're not wandering the store during the busy weekend. Tax-free weekend is popular, so stores are crowded—shopping early in the day or on Friday morning may be faster than Sunday afternoon.

If you're buying items that don't may have access to (like sports equipment or furniture), you might as well buy them before or after the weekend since you'll pay tax either way. Focus your tax-free shopping on supplies, clothing, and computers. For big-ticket items like a laptop, the savings are real—a $999 computer saves you roughly $60 in state tax alone, more if your county has local tax.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a student or parent to shop during tax-free weekend?

No. Anyone can shop during tax-free weekend and receive the tax exemption on may have access to items. You don't need to prove you're buying for a student, though some stores may ask. The exemption applies to the item itself, not the buyer.

What if I buy something and then return it after tax-free weekend?

You'll receive a refund based on the price you paid. If you bought it tax-free, your refund won't include tax. If you return it and buy a similar item after the weekend, you'll pay tax on the new purchase. Keep your receipt to show the original tax-free price.

Can I order online during tax-free weekend and have it shipped later?

It depends on the retailer. Some online stores honor the tax-free weekend if you order during those dates, even if the item ships later. Others only waive tax if the item ships during the weekend. Check the retailer's policy before ordering, or call their customer service to confirm.

Are there other tax-free events in Florida besides the August weekend?

Florida also holds a back-to-school tax-free period in early August and occasionally offers other limited tax-free events. The August 1–3 weekend is the main one. Check the Florida Department of Revenue website for any additional events announced for 2025.

What if my county has a high local sales tax—do I still save money?

Yes. Even if your county has local tax, you save the 6% state tax, which is the largest portion. A county with 1–2% local tax means you still save 4–5% on may have access to items. The higher your county's local tax, the more you save by avoiding the state tax.