Hurricane Supplies Sales Tax Holiday

This year Florida residents will have the opportunity to save money while stocking up on certain hurricane supplies in limited quantities. The hurricane supplies sales tax holiday runs from May 21 - June 1.

This is expected to encourage residents to become self-sufficient for the first 3 days following a hurricane. Governor Bush is pushing for a "culture of preparedness" so that Floridians can be better equipped to reduce hurricane damage and public dependency on the government's help in providing water, ice and other essentials.

Although this is the second year that the hurricane supply sales tax holiday is taking place, it will now become a permanent Florida holiday that will coincide with National Hurricane Preparedness Week.

Some notable improvements to the list of items that will be tax-free include the addition of carbon monoxide detectors (important to have when using a generator), storm shutters (up to a cost of $200 each, but does not include plywood), and an increase in the amount allowed for generators (double last year's tax break of $500 - now it's $1,000). Other items exempt from sales tax during the hurricane preparedness tax holiday include many types of batteries, flashlights, radios, tie-down kits, ice chests or coolers (except electrical coolers).