FL Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday May Save Families Money

FLORIDA — Many outdoor items will be exempt from sales tax in July due to legislation Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Tuesday in what his office said was a way to save Florida families money.

The Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday — enacted for the fiscal year 2024-25 budget — will remove sales tax on items such as fishing supplies, outdoor recreation equipment, admissions to state parks and museums the entirety of July, DeSantis' office said.

Furthermore, Florida state parks will offer free admission on Memorial Day weekend, May 24-27, to kick off the summer for families.

“Florida is stepping up to make summer more affordable for families,” DeSantis said in a news release. “While the federal government is causing high inflation and skyrocketing costs for families, Florida’s smart fiscal policies allow us to reduce taxes and help reduce the burden on Floridians.”

Among items that will be sales tax free in July are:

Boating and water activity supplies

• Goggles and snorkels ($25 or less)
• Pool toys ($35 or less)
• Coolers, Life jackets, Paddles ($75 or less)
• Inflatable water tubes and floats, Wakeboards ($150 or less)
• Paddleboards, Surfboards ($300 or less)
• Canoes, Kayaks ($500 or less)

Fishing Supplies

• Bait and Tackle ($5 or less for individual items, $10 or less for multiple items sold together)
• Tackle boxes ($30 or less)
• Reels, Rods ($75 or less)

Camping Supplies

• Flashlights ($30 or less)
• Sleeping bags, Camping chairs ($50 or less)
• Tents ($200 or less)

Outdoor Supplies

• Sunscreen ($15 or less)
• Water bottles ($30 or less)
• Bicycle helmets ($50 or less)
• Outdoor grills ($250 or less)
• Bicycles ($500 or less)

Admissions to events or performances scheduled to be held between July 1 and Dec. 31:

• Live music events
• Live sporting events
• Movies to be shown in a movie theater
• Ballets
• Plays
• Fairs
• Festivals

Admissions purchased for any of the following:

• Museums, including annual passes
• State parks, including annual passes
• Season tickets for ballets, plays, music events, and musical theater performances

“Florida’s 175 award-winning state parks are second to none,” Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton said in the release. “I encourage all of Florida’s residents and visitors to take advantage of these extra savings and discover the unique experiences the real Florida has to offer.”