Back-to-school tax 'holiday' pitched for 2018

Sales taxes would be lifted for two weekends before the start of the 2018 school year on clothes, school supplies and personal computers, under a measure filed Monday in the Senate.

The back-to-school sales tax “holiday” proposal (SB 686) by Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, would allow shoppers to avoid paying sales taxes for 10 days in late July and early August on clothes and shoes costing up to $100 per item, school supplies that cost $15 or less, and personal computers and related accessories priced at $1,000 or less.

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This August, the state offered a three-day tax holiday, with taxes not collected on clothes and shoes costing up to $60 per item and personal computers priced at $750 or less.

This year's tax break included school supplies at the $15 mark.

The state has offered back-to-school tax holidays most years since 1998.

The House does not currently have a version of Perry's bill, which is filed for the legislative session starting in January.

If Perry's bill is approved, the tax holiday would last from July 27 through Aug. 5.