The last week of August seems to be unusually quiet in the tropics. According to the National Hurricane Center, no storms are expected at least until the middle of the week. “Enjoy the calm, because we know things will soon get better,” WPLG meteorologist Michael Lowry wrote on Monday in his blog Eye on the Tropics.
But you can also use the opportunity to prepare for the busier period of hurricane season, which lasts through November, by stocking up on hurricane supplies while lines at stores are shorter during the temporary lull.
Florida reinstated its sales tax-free disaster preparedness program on August 24, which runs through September 6. The idea is to give us some relief when buying hurricane supplies with two tax-free holidays. The first week of tax-free disaster preparedness programs occurred at the beginning of the season during the first two weeks of June.
Maybe you ran out of supplies when Beryl hit the Caribbean in late June or when Hurricane Debby hit parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast with torrential rains and power outages.
Get what you need fast and save money. Here’s what you need to know:
When are hurricane tax free days in Florida?
▪ The first VAT-free day was from 1 to 14 June.
▪ The second tax-free period began on Saturday, August 24th and lasts until Friday, September 6th.
During these tax breaks, Florida residents can build their hurricane emergency supplies from qualified household goods such as pet food and supplies, batteries, flashlights, cleaning supplies and other necessary items, thereby avoiding sales tax.
Note: The general sales tax in Florida is usually 6%, so if you buy pet supplies for $10, for example, you save 60 cents.
Which deliveries are tax-free?
Tax-free hurricane deliveries include:
Selling for $10 or less
▪ Wet dog food or cat food when sold individually or the equivalent when sold in a box or carton.
Selling for $15 or less
▪ Manual can openers
▪ Other pet supplies such as collapsible or travel-sized pet food or water bowls, litter boxes and waste bags, and substrate for hamsters or rabbits. Pet leashes, collars and muzzles and bedding and cat litter, which are more expensive, are also affected by the tax credit. Pet kennels or carriers and pet food weighing 50 pounds or less and over-the-counter pet medications, which can cost $100 or less, are also affected by the tax credit.
Selling for $20 or less
▪ Reusable ice.
Selling for $40 or less
▪ Portable, self-powered light sources such as candles, flashlights and lanterns.
Selling for $50 or less
▪ Portable radios with their own power supply, walkie-talkies or weather radios.
▪ Gas or diesel fuel tanks.
▪ Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, sizes listed only: AA cell, AAA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt, 9 volt.
Selling for $60 or less
▪ Non-electric cool boxes and ice boxes for food storage.
▪ Portable power banks.
Selling for $70 or less
▪ Smoke detectors or smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors.
▪ Fire extinguisher.
Selling for $100 or less
▪ Tarpaulins, visqueen, plastic sheets, plastic tarpaulins and other flexible, waterproof films.
▪ Ground anchor systems, including bungee cords and tie-down sets.
Selling for $3,000 or less
▪ Portable generators are used to provide light or communications or to preserve food during a power outage.
