Disaster prep sales tax holiday begins Saturday

Just in time for a tropical system that for now appears to be taking aim at somewhere along the Gulf Coast, shoppers can take advantage of Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Aug. 26 to Sept. 8.

Sales tax will be suspended on a wide range of products that could come in handy should the state experience landfall of a major hurricane. The sales tax holiday applies to products in a range of 11 price tiers, starting at $10 or less for pet food up to $3,000 or less for portable generators. 

The product categories include:

$10 or less

• Pet food

$15 or less

• Manual can openers
• Collapsible or travel-size pet food or water bowls
• Cat litter pans
• Pet waste disposal bags
• Hamster or rabbit substrate

$20 or less

• Reusable ice
• Leashes, collars and muzzles for pets
• Pet pads

$25 or less

• Cat litter, 25 pounds or less

$30 or less

• Laundry detergent and supplies
• Paper products
• Hand soap, bar soap and sunscreen
• Dish soap and detergents
• Cleaning and disinfecting wipes and sprays, hand sanitizer
• Trash bags

$40 or less

• Portable self-powered light sources
• Pet beds

$50 or less

• Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios, weather-band radios
• Gas or diesel fuel tanks
• Batteries including rechargeable in AA, AAA, C and D cells; and 6-volt and 9-volt

$60 or less

• Non-electric food storage coolers
• Portable power banks

$70 or less

• Smoke detectors or smoke alarms
• Fire extinguishers
• Carbon monoxide detectors

$1,000 or less

• Tarps or other flexible waterproof sheeting
• Ground anchor systems
• Portable pet kennels or carriers
• Dog or cat food weighing 50 pounds or less
• Over-the-counter pet medications

$3,000 or less

• Portable generators

For more details visit FloridaRevenue.com/DisasterPrep.