Florida Governor Ron DeSantis 1

‘Freedom Week’ Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Tax Holiday Bill

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference at a Home Depot in Pensacola on Friday to announce the signing of a bill that provides for this year’s tax holiday for hurricane season preparation as well as other tax holidays.

A new tax holiday week called ‘Freedom Week’ is set for the week of July 4th and will remove tax collection for events, state parks, museums, and season tickets for events purchased that week.

“I think it was really good and I’m happy that we’re able to do this,” said DeSantis. “Of course the back to school sales tax holiday will run for 10 days spanning July 31st until August 9th for certain clothing school supplies and the first one $1,000 of personal computers and related accessories. The 10-day disaster preparedness tax holiday will run from May 28th through June 6th for specified disaster preparedness items within certain price ranges.”

It also includes outdoor supplies like those used for water sports, team sports, camping and other items.

The disaster preparedness tax week is extended from seven to 10 days, running from May 28-June 6, 2021.

Sales Tax Holidays

  • “Disaster Preparedness” Tax Holiday from May 28 until June 6, 2021

This 10-day tax holiday allows Floridians to prepare for hurricane season while saving money on disaster preparedness items such as flashlights under $40, batteries less than $50, tarps under $100, generators less than $1,000, and more. 

  • “Freedom Week” Tax Holiday from July 1 until July 7, 2021

The first ever “Freedom Week” provides 7 days of sales tax savings on outdoor recreation purchases, such as the first $100 of the sales price of sunglasses, the first $200 of the sales prices of tents, and the first $500 of the sales price of kayaks or canoes, as well as tickets for events, museums, the arts, and more.

  • Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday from July 31 until August 9, 2021

Spanning 10 days, Floridians will pay no sales tax for certain clothing of $60 or less per item, school supplies of $15 or less per item, and the first $1,000 of personal computers and related accessories.

Tax Cuts to Support Florida’s Seniors Living Independently 

HB 7061 creates Florida’s first permanent sales tax exemption for independent living items for seniors in our state. Items like bed transfer handles, bed rails, grab bars, and shower seats will be exempt from sales tax for individual purchases.

Ad Valorem Tax Breaks 

To support housing options for all Floridians, the tax package doubles the ad valorem tax exemption for certain affordable housing properties from 50% to 100%. Additionally, the bill includes implementation language for a proposed constitutional amendment providing property tax relief for residential property improvements made for the purpose of flood mitigation. This property tax relief is subject to the approval by the voters on the 2022 General Election ballot.

Tax Credits for Florida Businesses

  • Strong Families Tax Credit Program

To help support the wellbeing of children in our state, HB 7061 creates the Strong Families Tax Credit Program for businesses that make monetary donations to certain eligible charitable organizations that provide services focused on child welfare. 

  • Internship Tax Credit

The newly created Internship Tax Credit provides tax relief for Florida businesses that employ and retain student interns, encouraging companies to hire young Floridians attending college in our state. 

  • Brownfields Tax Credit Program

The bill also provides a one-time increase in funding of $17.5 million for the Brownfields Tax Credit Program to fund a backlog of approved credits. This program, administered through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, incentivizes businesses to clean up and redevelop hazardous sites to protect our environment and economy. 

“The legislature believed, and they really deserve credit for this idea, that to celebrate both our economic and recreational freedom that we enjoy here in the Sunshine State, this tax package will include the first ever freedom week, which will be a seven-day sales tax holiday on outdoor recreational purchases as well as tickets for events museums the arts and more. We’re proud of being a free state we’re proud of being open and we want taxpayers to be able to benefit if they’re participating in all these,” said Gov. DeSantis.

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