Florida’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday officially begins Monday, July 20, 2026, giving Space Coast parents, students, and educators a month-long opportunity to save on essential classroom supplies, clothing, learning aids, and personal computers.

The tax exemption period runs through Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. State law requires all Florida retail dealers to participate, with no option for businesses to opt out.

The savings apply to qualifying items purchased in stores or online. However, sales tax remains applicable on purchases made within theme parks, entertainment complexes, public lodging establishments, or airports.

Special rules also apply to specific transaction types during the holiday month:

• Remote Orders: Online and marketplace orders qualify for the exemption if accepted during the holiday period for immediate shipment, even if delivered after Aug. 20.
• Layaway Sales: Eligible items put on layaway during the tax holiday qualify, as do layaway items delivered to customers during the holiday period.
• Coupons and Discounts: Store discounts and store coupons reduce the taxable price of an item. Manufacturer coupons and rebates do not lower the taxable price because retailers receive reimbursement.
• Exchanges: Items purchased tax-free during the holiday can be exchanged later for the same item in a different size or color without paying tax. Returning an exempt item for credit toward a non-exempt purchase after the holiday will incur sales tax.

Complete Guide to Tax-Exempt and Taxable Items

The Florida Department of Revenue has issued a comprehensive list detailing which items qualify for tax relief and which remain taxable.

1. Learning Aids and Jigsaw Puzzles ($30 or Less per Item)

Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less are exempt from sales tax.

Exempt Learning Aid Items:

• Electronic books
• Flashcards
• Interactive books
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Learning cards
• Matching games
• Memory games
• Puzzle books
• Search-and-find books
• Stacking or nesting blocks or sets
• Toys that teach reading or math skills

2. School Supplies ($50 or Less per Item)

Most standard school supplies priced at $50 or less per item are exempt from sales tax.

Exempt School Supply Items:

• Binders
• Cellophane (transparent) tape
• Colored pencils
• Compasses
• Composition books
• Computer disks (blank CDs only)
• Construction paper
• Crayons
• Erasers
• Folders
• Glue (stick and liquid)
• Highlighters
• Legal pads
• Lunch boxes
• Markers
• Notebook filler paper
• Notebooks
• Paste
• Pencils, including mechanical and refills
• Pens, including felt, ballpoint, fountain, highlighters, and refills
• Poster board
• Poster paper
• Protractors
• Rulers
• Scissors
• Staplers and staples (used to secure paper products)

Taxable School Supply Items:

• Books not otherwise exempt
• Computer paper
• Correction tape, fluid, or pens
• Masking tape
• Printer paper

3. Personal Computers and Related Accessories ($1,500 or Less)

Personal computers and nonrecreational accessories priced at $1,500 or less qualify when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use. Computers intended for commercial trade, business, or primary recreational use are not exempt.

Exempt Computers and Accessories:

• Cables (for computers)
• Calculators
• Central processing units (CPU)
• Compact disk drives
• Computers for noncommercial home or personal use (Desktop, Laptop, Tablet)
• Computer batteries
• Computer towers (consisting of CPU, RAM, and storage drive)
• Data storage devices (excluding devices designed for digital cameras or taxable items): Blank CDs, Diskettes, Flash drives, Jump drives, Memory cards, Portable hard drives, Storage drives, Thumb drives, Zip drives
• Docking stations (for computers)
• Electronic book readers
• Hard drives
• Headphones (including earbuds)
• Ink cartridges (for computer printers)
• Keyboards (for computers)
• Mice (mouse devices)
• Microphones (for computers)
• Modems
• Monitors (except devices that include a television tuner)
• Motherboards
• Personal digital assistant devices (except cellular telephones)
• Port replicators
• Printer cartridges
• Printers (including “all-in-one” models)
• RAM (random access memory)
• Routers
• Scanners
• Software (nonrecreational: Antivirus, Database, Educational, Financial, Word processing)
• Speakers (for computers)
• Storage drives (for computers)
• Tablets
• Web cameras

Taxable Computers and Accessories:

• Cases for electronic devices (including electronic reader covers)
• CDs and DVDs (music, voice, prerecorded items)
• Cellular telephones (including smart telephones)
• Computer bags
• Computer paper
• Computers designed and intended for recreation (games and toys)
• Copy machines and copier ink and toner
• Digital cameras
• Digital media receivers
• Fax machines (stand-alone)
• Furniture
• Game controllers (joysticks, nunchucks)
• Game systems and consoles
• Games and gaming software
• Music players and accessories
• Projectors
• Rented computers or computer-related accessories
• Smart telephones
• Surge protectors
• Tablet cases or covers
• Televisions (including digital media receivers)
• Video game consoles

4. Clothing and Accessories ($100 or Less per Item)

Wearing apparel, footwear, wallets, and non-frame bags priced at $100 or less per item are exempt. Theme park, lodging, airport, and rental transactions remain taxable.

Exempt Clothing and Accessories:

• Accessories: Barrettes, bobby pins, belt buckles, bow ties, hairnets, bows, clips, hairbands, handbags, neckwear, ponytail holders, scarves, ties, wallets
• Aerobic and fitness clothing
• Aprons and clothing shields
• Athletic supporters
• Backpacks and book bags
• Bandanas
• Baseball cleats
• Bathing suits, caps, and cover-ups
• Belts
• Bibs
• Blouses
• Boots (except ski or fishing boots)
• Bowling shoes (purchased)
• Bras
• Cleated and spiked shoes
• Coats
• Coin purses
• Costumes
• Coveralls
• Diaper bags
• Dresses
• Fanny packs
• Fishing vests (non-flotation)
• Formal clothing (purchased)
• Gloves (Dress purchased, Garden, Leather, Work)
• Graduation caps and gowns
• Gym suits and uniforms
• Hats and caps
• Hosiery and pantyhose (including support hosiery)
• Hunting vests
• Jackets
• Jeans
• Lab coats
• Leggings, tights, and leg warmers
• Leotards
• Lingerie
• Martial arts attire
• Overshoes and rubber footwear
• Pants
• Purses
• Raincoats, rain hats, and ponchos
• Receiving blankets
• Robes
• Safety clothing
• Safety shoes
• Scout uniforms
• Shawls and wraps
• Shirts
• Shoe inserts and insoles
• Shoes (including athletic)
• Shoulder pads (for dresses or jackets)
• Shorts
• Ski suits (snow)
• Skirts
• Sleepwear (nightgowns and pajamas)
• Slippers
• Slips
• Socks
• Suits, slacks, and jackets
• Suspenders
• Sweatbands
• Sweaters
• Swimsuits and trunks
• Tuxedos (purchased)
• Underclothes
• Uniforms (work, school, and athletic, excluding pads)
• Vests

Taxable Clothing and Accessories:

• Accessories: Handkerchiefs, jewelry, key chains, key cases, watchbands, watches
• Athletic gloves (Baseball, Batting, Bicycle, Golf, Hockey, Rubber, Surgical, Tennis)
• Athletic pads (Elbow, Football, Hockey, Knee, Shoulder, Soccer)
• Bowling shoes (rented)
• Briefcases
• Checkbook covers (separate from wallets)
• Chest protectors
• Cloth, lace, knitting yarns, and other fabrics
• Clothing repair items (thread, buttons, tapes, iron-on patches, zippers)
• Corsages and boutonnieres
• Cosmetic bags
• Crib blankets
• Diving suits (wet and dry)
• Duffel bags
• Fins
• Fishing boots (waders)
• Formal clothing (rented)
• Garment bags
• Goggles
• Hard hats
• Helmets (baseball, football, hockey, motorcycle, sports)
• Ice skates
• In-line skates
• Knee pads
• Luggage
• Makeup bags
• Paint or dust masks
• Patterns
• Protective masks (athletic)
• Rented clothing or footwear
• Repair of wearing apparel
• Roller blades
• Roller skates
• Safety glasses
• Shaving kits and bags
• Shin guards and padding
• Ski boots (snow)
• Skin diving suits
• Suitcases
• Sunglasses
• Swimming masks
• Umbrellas
• Weightlifting belts
• Wigs