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2024 Florida Hurricane Tax Free Holiday List

The hurricane tax holiday is coming soon. As hurricane season approaches, it’s good to know Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is coming soon. Which essential items are on the list as tax free during this period?

Hurricane Ida Makes Landfall In Louisiana Leaving Devastation In Its Wake. Hurricane Tax Free Holiday
(Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

The hurricane tax free holiday is coming soon. As hurricane season approaches, it's good to know Florida's Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is coming soon. Which essential items are on the list as tax free during this period?

The dates of Florida's first Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday of 2024 are June 1 through June 14. There's a second tax holiday for the same items coming from August 24 through September 6.

During the hurricane tax free holiday, tax is not due on retail sale of these eligible items:

  • $20 or less: reusable ice packs
  • $40 or less: self-powered lights, candles, and flashlights
  • $50 or less: portable, weather and two-way radios, gas or diesel fuel containers (including LP gas and kerosene containers), batteries (including rechargeable batteries) - AAA, AA, C, D, 6-vold and 9-volt. Excluded are automobile and boat batteries.
  • $60 or less: coolers (non-electric), power banks
  • $70 or less: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers
  • $100 or less: bungee cords, ground anchor systems, ratchet straps, tarps, tie-down kits, visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop clothes and other waterproof sheeting
  • $3,000 or less: portable generators used for light or communication or to preserve food
  • There is NO limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase.
  • Rental or repair of any of the items above is NOT part of the sales tax holiday.

The Hurricane Tax Free Holiday Does Not Apply To:

  • Commercial purchases of eligible pet evacuation supplies, sales within a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport or the rental of any of the eligible items listed.
Portable generators are among the items listed for the hurricane tax free holiday

A portable generator used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage with a sales price of $3,000 or less. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Eligible Pet Evacuation Supplies for the hurricane tax free holiday:

  • Sales Price of $10 or less per can or pouch (or the equivalent if sold in a box or case): Wet cat or dog food
  • Sales Price of $15 or less per item or package: Cat litter pans, collapsible or travel-size food or water bowls, hamster or rabbit substrate, manual can openers, pet waste disposal bags
  • Sales Price of $20 or less per item or package: Collars, muzzles, leashes, pet pads
  • Sales Price of $25 or less per item: Cat litter weighing 25lbs. or less
  • Sales Price of $40 or less per item: Pet beds
  • Sales price of $100 or less per item: Bags of dry cat or dog food weighing 50 lbs. or less, pet carriers, portable kennels, over-the-counter pet medications

Still have questions? Here's some more tips from the Florida Department of Revenue's website.

It'll be here before you know it. Hurricane season is upon us and if Ian and Helene  taught us anything, it's better to be safe than sorry. Even though Tampa was barely able to avoid the worst of Ian, we still remember people scrambling to get last-minute supplies. Some waited in lines for hours for supplies only to leave empty-handed. Don't let that be you this year! In the case of a major hurricane or even a tropical storm, you should have these 5 things before hurricane season starts.

Experts say it's super important to build a storm kit before any type of disaster. Each kit may look different based on an individual's needs. These are the universal 5 items you shouldn't forget! We found all of these items on Amazon. If you think ahead and order these items now, you should be able to build your storm kit before hurricane season even starts. Anybody can remember to stock up on the essentials (bottled water, food, and batteries) but do you have these useful items in your home in case of a big storm?

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also listed hurricane safety tips and resources so you and your family can be prepared. When shopping for supplies, you should grab enough items like water, food, and batteries, to be able to last you for at least 1 week. It also seems pretty obvious that every Floridian should own a battery-operated or hand-crank radio. If you ever lose power, at least you can still be kept in the loop with your favorite radio station. And by now, everyone should have a backup portable phone charger.

Here are 5 things you should have before hurricane season starts:

Empty Sand Bags

Remember when everyone was scrambling all over Pinellas and Hillsborough counties looking for sand bags? Most pick-up locations were only allowing people to pick up 2-3 bags per person, which is probably not enough to surround your house/belongings.

hurricane prep items

BBGI

If you order these empty sandbags on Amazon now, you should have them by next week. It will make your life a lot easier to just drive to your nearest beach or causeway and fill the bags up that way.

Floridians Prepare For Tropical Storm Alex

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Battery Powered Fan

We all know how crappy it is to lose power in the middle of a hurricane. In some cases, you may not know when it will be restored. Amazon has this really cool battery powered camping lantern with a fan for only $20. Reviews say that 1 set of D batteries lasted them over 10 hours.

Hurricane prep item

Getty Royalty Free

Footwear

If you live in Florida and don't have a decent pair of rain boots, now is your time to get a pair. If the thought of gross storm water touching your skin freaks you out, you should grab a pair of these knee high waterproof boots.

5 Things You Should Have Before Hurricane Season Starts

Getty Royalty Free

Mini Water Filtration System

It's better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it, right? Check out this mini water filtration system for just $22 on Amazon.

Waterproof Containers

You don’t want to ruin important documents like social security, state issued ID and birth certificates, prescription medication, copies of insurance documents, to name a few. Bonus if you can convert other important documents to an USB flash drive! You'll want something big enough to hold all of your belongings, but compact enough to carry around in case you have to evacuate. Amazon has a great option, here.

Honorary Mention: Board Games/Deck of Cards/Coloring Books

This one may seem obvious, which is why we made it an honorary mention in case it does slip your mind. Remember how bored you were when you lost power from Ian? Some board games, deck of cards, or coloring books should help you pass the time, without killing your phone battery.

hurricane prep items

Getty Royalty Free

Roxanne is a co-host on the MJ Morning Show and host of Middays on Q105 in Tampa Bay. She also hosts segments on The Current, which features local feel-good stories and health and wellness segments, and airs on five of the six Tampa-based Beasley Media Group stations. Roxanne has conducted hundreds of interviews, from athletes to Oscar winners, including Matt Damon, Christian Bale, and Chadwick Boseman. She also specializes in media training, having worked with clients in the NFL, NBA and WWE for television, in print, and online. Roxanne is a published author and will be releasing a thriller novel in 2024. Her favorite thing in the world is being with her two daughters and husband. As a content creator for Q105, Roxanne writes about family activities in the Tampa Bay area, as well as reviews for local restaurants and travel.