Hurricane Idalia is barely behind us and now all eyes are now on Tropical Storm Lee. Make sure you are prepared. We are in the final days of tax free hurricane supplies in Florida. The shopping incentive ends Friday, September 8th. Now is the time to save money on those vital supplies if you are in Lee, Collier, Charlotte or any other Southwest Florida county. In addition to supplies, here is our hurricane guide to refresh you on all kinds of important information pre and post-storm.
This is one of two Disaster Preparedness sales tax holidays giving Floridians a break when stocking up on some basic supplies. The first tax free holiday kicked off over Memorial Day Weekend. The list of items that are tax free right now is pretty extensive. In addition, they may include things you don’t typically think about when it comes to hurricane supplies.
Do you have enough batteries in your hurricane supply kit?
Tax free hurricane supplies
Tax free items include things you might need for your personal safety during and immediately following a storm like flashlights and tarps. In addition, they consider things you might need if you are forced to evacuate with a beloved pet. Keep in mind that there are limits on spending in each category. However, you CAN be strategic and shop a little each day to get the maximum in sales tax savings. If you have questions about what is exempt you can click here to get a little more info. That link will also help if for some reason a store did not honor a tax free purchase,
You can click here for a complete list of all sales tax holidays in Florida. In the meantime, here are a few items to stock up on. These hurricane supplies are tax free today through Friday, September 8th. We are in the most active part of hurricane season now, so take advantage of the final days for tax free savings.
All Generators
Generators can be life savers, literally, in the days and weeks following a major storm. They help preserve food if the power goes out, help supply oxygen and other vital services. The sales tax is waved on generators costing up to $3000. Over that, you’ll need to pay
Batteries and Power Packs
When power goes out, batteries are essential for flashlights, radios and more. The sales tax is waved on AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6- volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, with a sales price of $50 or less. It’s a good time to grab a power pack or power bank at $60 or less.
Portable Lighting
This covers lighting as far as flashlights, lanterns and candles. These light sources can be powered by solar, by battery or gas and must be $40 and under to qualify.
Radios
Radios were crucial for communication and information following Hurricane Ian. Tax is waved on portable radios, two-way radios and weather-band radios. This does not mean you get to buy a new sound system tax free. Limits are $50 or less.
Tarps and other accessories
Tarps and similar waterproof sheeting is included. The price cap for these items is $100. In addition, sales tax is waved on items typically sold with tarps such as ground anchor or tie-down kits costing $100 or less.
Household Supplies
One of the things we learned from Hurricane Ian is the need for a few basic supplies such as bleach and laundry detergents. Also included in this section are items such as paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, soap, disinfectant, sanitizer, and sunscreen.Food Storage Items
This includes coolers that are $60 and under as well as those reusable ice packs that come in at $20 or less.
Pet Supplies
This includes items you might need when evacuating with a pet. The list includes such thing as portable kennels or pet carries ($100 or less), pet beds ($40 or less), pet medications ($100 or less). In addition, you’ll be able to purchase items such as leashes, collars, waste disposal bags, food and more, all with price caps.
