Statement by Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro on Back to School Sales Tax Holiday Beginning Mon., July 24
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wed., July 19, 2023
CONTACT: Aly Coleman Raschid, aly@on3pr.com, 850.391.5040
Statement by Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro on Back to School Sales Tax Holiday Beginning Mon., July 24
Tallahassee, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday beginning Mon., July 24.
“Quality education is key to child development and positioning future generations of Floridians for success. It is critical that the state invest in initiatives, like the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, that will ensure students and teachers alike are adequately equipped for a productive school year. Florida TaxWatch thanks Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, not only for reinstituting this timely tax relief, but also for expanding it to four weeks total and thereby giving families additional opportunities to save their hard-earned tax dollars.”
According to Governor DeSantis’ Framework for Freedom Budget highlights, the $1.3 billion tax relief package in Florida’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 state budget contains funding for more than 15 sales tax holidays and exemptions, including two, two-week Back to School Sales Tax Holidays, one prior to the start of the fall semester (Mon., July 24-Sun., Aug. 6, 2023) and one prior to the start of the spring semester (Mon., Jan. 1-Sun., Jan. 14, 2024). Together, they will save Florida families over $160.6 million by applying to items such as personal computers and accessories up to $1,500, clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $50, and learning aides and jigsaw puzzles up to $30.
These sales tax holidays accompany the ongoing 14-week Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday(Mon., May 29-Mon., Sept. 4, 2023), the one-year extension of the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday(Sat., July 1, 2023-Sun., June 30, 2024), the one-year Gas Ranges and Cooktops Sales Tax Holiday(Sat., July 1, 2023-Sun., June 30, 2024), and the two-year Home Hardening Sales Tax Exemption (Fri., July 1, 2022-Sun., June 30, 2024). You can access President and CEO Calabro’s comments on those here, here, and here respectively.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute for more than forty years and the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on taxpayers and businesses. FTW is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled FTW to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the citizens it serves since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.
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