Florida's Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday Gets Upgrade

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Florida's popular "Back-to-School" sales tax holiday is coming up, and this year it's getting an upgrade. Personal computers and accessories selling for up to $750 will be tax free.

Beginning Friday, August 2nd at midnight through midnight Sunday August 4th, you'll be able to buy all sorts of back-to-school supplies, such as pens, paper, crayons, glue, backpacks and clothes including shoes, without paying the usual sales tax.

School supplies which are $15-dollars or less will be tax exempt as well as clothing and shoes up to $75-dollars.

But this year there's an added bonus, shoppers will also be able to save the sales tax on personal computers, e-readers and tablets and select accessories that cost $750 or less, as long as they're not used for commercial purposes.

The Florida Retail Federation expects additional hiring by some businesses and says electronics companies have already started lowering the prices on laptops and tablets to fit under the $750 benchmark to be sales-tax free.

"What it looks like is the retailers are preparing for the demand, and they're marking down some computers so they can slide in under the $750 limit," said John Fleming, spokesman for the statewide trade association.

Lawmakers approved the exemption this year after they realizing how important technology is to education.

The state Revenue Estimating Conference has estimated the tax break will cost Florida $28.3 million in revenue this year, with local governments out $6.4 million. The statewide projection is up from a $25.9 million estimate from the 2012 back-to-school period that was also three days.

The tax break, as has been in the case in previous years, doesn't apply in theme parks or at airports or hotel gift shops.

For complete list of tax exempt items, log onto: www.myflorida.com/dor

"The News Service of Florida contributed to this report."