TALLAHASSEE — A two-week sales tax holiday begins this weekend for Floridians preparing for the upcoming hurricane season, which begins June 1.
The 2022 Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday starts Saturday, May 28, 2022, and ends Friday, June 10, 2022.
The sales tax exemption on hurricane supplies is one of several tax breaks promoted this year by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature.
“Preparing for hurricanes and other natural disasters can be costly, especially with ongoing inflation continuing to impact our nation,” said DeSantis in a statement released Thursday. “This year, the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday has been extended to a full two weeks to ensure Floridians are receiving the maximum amount of savings and have enough time to prepare for hurricane season.”
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Some tax-free items include batteries, flashlights, generators and power banks. The state also added several new items to this year’s list to assist pet owners — dry and wet food, cat litter, kennels and more.
Floridians may save up to $25.6 million during the tax holiday, more than double of 2021’s $10.5 million in savings, according to estimates by the Governor’s Office.
Earlier this month, DeSantis signed into law a $1.2 billion package of tax breaks that included the elimination of the state sales tax on diapers for a year, along with four sales tax holidays lasting one or two weeks each. There’s also a yearlong sales-tax-free period, beginning July 1, for the purchase of baby and toddler clothes and shoes.
The sales tax holiday for hurricane season has been extended in Florida for years. Details on this year’s schedule can be found here.
Meanwhile, federal forecasters are anticipating a busy hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates upwards of 21 named storms and as many as 10 hurricanes may develop during the season. The average season produces roughly seven hurricanes.
“Keeping a fully stocked disaster supply kit with at least 7 days of supplies for each family member, including pets, is an essential component of disaster preparedness,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie.
The Florida Department of Revenue published a list of frequently asked questions about the “2022 Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.” View the list of items here, along with other FAQ’s.
