JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks could be in our future. Florida lawmakers are considering three sales tax holidays this year.
The proposals include hurricane and back-to-school holidays similar to ones Florida shoppers have enjoyed in the past, but there’s also a new sales tax “holiday” among the proposals.
The “Freedom Week holiday” would be held the first week of July. You’d get a sales tax break on tickets for fun things like in-theater movies, concerts and athletic contests.
The package that would provide $61.5 million in tax reductions next fiscal year will be taken up by the House Ways & Means Committee. It comes as Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, advised members Thursday to expect formal budget negotiations to take place this weekend.
The House tax package (PCB WMC 21-01) is topped by a seven-day tax holiday in early August as students prepare to go back to school. During the period, shoppers would be able to avoid paying sales taxes on clothes costing $60 or less, school supplies costing $15 or less and personal computers costing less than $1,000.
During a weeklong disaster-preparedness holiday around June 1, shoppers could avoid paying sales taxes on items ranging from small batteries to portable generators costing up to $750.
The bill includes other things, too. Like proposals for a property tax discount for certain housing projects for low-income families. Local governments could also use tourism taxes for flood projects.