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Florida’s back-to-school tax holiday ends Monday

The deal applies to clothing, school supplies, computers and more.
 
Florida's 2021 back-to-school sales tax holiday began on July 31 and ends Aug. 9. The last time the holiday lasted 10 days was in 2015.
Florida's 2021 back-to-school sales tax holiday began on July 31 and ends Aug. 9. The last time the holiday lasted 10 days was in 2015.
Published Aug. 6, 2021|Updated Aug. 6, 2021

A note to those who do their shopping on weekends: Florida’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday ends at midnight Monday.

The holiday, usually a three-day affair, runs 10 days for the first time since 2015. It began July 31.

Retailers will suspend taxes on clothing, footwear and backpacks costing $60 or less; school supplies costing $15 or less; and the first $1,000 of the sales tax price for personal computers or personal computer accessories.

Related: Back to school 2021: In Tampa Bay, classes to start with fewer restrictions

The latter category includes a wide range of items, including cords, keyboards, printers, and printer ink. A complete list of tax-exempt items can be found at floridarevenue.com/backtoschool)

A Q&A at that link addresses many questions consumers might have, such as whether there is a limit to how many tax-exempt items someone can purchase. The answer: Buy as much as you want; there is no limit as long as your items qualify for the exemption.

Another point addressed is the $15 limit on school supplies. The limit refers to individual items being purchased, not the total of everything in your cart.

Related: Read the Times' 2021 back-to-school guide in our e-Newspaper

The exemption does apply to items purchased online, as long as your order is accepted before midnight Monday. Don’t worry if the delivery date is later.

Unlike last year, protective products related to the pandemic (masks, hand sanitizer and cleaners) will not be sold tax-free.

School starts Tuesday in Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties and on Wednesday in Pinellas County.