$1.3 billion in savings included in this year’s Florida tax package

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers may be proposing to spend $117 billion in the upcoming fiscal year, but they’ve also included $2.7 billion in tax cuts to help Florida residents and businesses.

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A big chunk of those savings come in the form of tax holidays and sales tax exemptions.

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Florida lawmakers are touting this year’s tax package as ‘historic’.

Totaling $1.3 billion the tax package delivers at least eight sales tax holidays including two back to school holidays, two hurricane preparedness holidays, a holiday covering live events, movies and outdoor activity supplies dubbed ‘Freedom Summer’, and holidays exempting sales tax on tools, energy efficient appliances and gas stoves.

“We’ve had to deal with things like the rampant inflation that has burdened consumers for many years now and we’ve responded, I think, in record fashion,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.

Related Story: Florida businesses, consumers could see tax breaks with sales tax ‘holidays,’ exemptions

DeSantis pointed out not all of the tax relief is temporary.

Lawmakers also included permanent sales tax exemptions on a long list of items like incontinence products, firearm safety products, oral hygiene products and baby products.

“Wipes, diapers, clothing, cribs strollers all those other things are gonna make a big, big difference for Florida families,” said DeSantis.

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Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book (D-Davie) noted the diaper tax exemption had been pushed for years by Democrats before finally clearing the finish line today.

“It’s a big deal. It’s a big deal for Floridians. It’s a big deal for people with harrowing health challenges, the elderly,” said Book.

The dates for the tax holidays are as follows:

• Back to School: July 24th-Aug 6th (2023) & Jan 1st-Jan 14th (2024)
• Disaster Preparedness: May 27th-June 9th (2023) & Aug 26th- Sept 8th (2023)
• Freedom Summer: May 29th-Sept 4th (2023)
• Tool Time: Sept 2nd-Sept 8th (2023)
• ENERGY STAR: July 1st (2023)-June 30th (2024)
• Gas Appliances: July 1st (2023)-June 30th (2024)