Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday underway. Here's what's included

Tax holiday begins ahead of new school year

Throughout the month of August, Florida shoppers can avoid paying sales tax on certain back-to-school items. FOX 13's Kellie Cowan reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - Florida's month-long sales tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers has officially begun.

Throughout August, shoppers will be able to avoid paying sales taxes on clothes, shoes and backpacks that cost $100 or less, school supplies that cost $50 or less and personal computers that cost $1,500 or less.

What's included in the sales tax holiday?

Personal computers or personal computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use at a sales price of $1,500 or less.

Personal computers* include:

• Calculators
• Desktops
• Electronic book readers
• Handhelds
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Tower computers

*The term does not include cellular telephones, video game consoles, digital media receivers, or devices that are not primarily designed to process data.

Personal computer-related accessories*+ include:

• Keyboards
• Mice
• Modems
• Monitors
• Nonrecreational software
• Other peripheral devices
• Personal digital assistants
• Routers

*The listed accessories are tax-exempt regardless of whether they are used in association with a personal computer base unit.

+ The term does not include furniture or systems, devices, software, monitors with a television tuner, or peripherals that are designed or intended primarily for recreational use.

Wallets and bags* with a sales price of $50 or less per item, including:

• Backpacks
• Diaper bags
• Fanny packs
• Handbags

*Briefcases, suitcases, and other garment bags are excluded.

School supplies with a sales price of $50 or less per item, including:

• Binders
• Cellophane tape
• Compasses
• Composition books
• Computer disks
• Construction paper
• Crayons
• Erasers
• Folders
• Glue or paste
• Legal pads
• Lunch boxes
• Markers
• Notebooks
• Notebook filler paper
• Pencils
• Pens
• Poster board
• Poster paper
• Protractors
• Rulers
• Scissors
• Staplers and staples used to secure paper products

Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of $30 or less:

• Flashcards or other learning cards
• Interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teach reading or math skills
• Matching or other memory games
• Puzzle books and search-and-find books
• Stacking or nesting blocks or sets

Clothing, footwear, and accessories with a sales price of $100 or less per item, including:

• Shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, shorts, and other apparel
• Shoes, boots, sandals, and other footwear
• Accessories such as belts, hats, gloves, and scarves

The sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

While Florida has held back-to-school tax holidays of varying lengths in most years, lawmakers this spring approved making it an every-August occurrence.