Residents Encouraged to Participate in Florida's Hurricane Sales Tax Holidays

Escambia County is encouraging residents to participate in both of Florida's 14-day Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays, June 1-15 and Aug. 24-Sept.6. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law HB 7063, which includes two disaster preparedness holidays, to assist families preparing for hurricane season with items such as tarps, batteries, and flashlights, all tax-free.

The Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was created to incentivize preparedness before hurricane and tropical storm season. Hurricane season begins June 1 and continues through November.

"I highly encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity," said Emergency Manager Travis Tompkins. "The prediction forecast for this hurricane season is shaping up to be substantial. Use this time to prepare your plan and your disaster kit."

Floridians can expect to be able to purchase the following items without paying sales tax:

• Cans or pouches of wet food ($10 or less)
• Manual can openers, collapsible or travel-size food and water bowls for pets, cat litter pans, pet waste disposal bags, hamster or rabbit substrate ($15 or less)
• Pet leashes, collars and muzzles, pet pads, reusable ice ($20 or less)
• Cat litter ($25 or less)
• Paper towels, toilet paper and soap ($30 or less)
• Candles, flashlights, lanterns and pet beds ($40 or less)
• Batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries ($50 or less)
• Radios powered by battery, solar or hand-crank ($50 or less)
• Coolers, portable power banks ($60 or less)
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors ($70 or less)
• Tarps, ground anchor systems, portable pet kennels, bags of dry dog or cat food, over-the-counter pet medications ($100 or less)
• Portable generators ($3000 or less)

For more information and a list of qualifying items, visit floridarevenue.com/disasterprep.