As Floridians prepare for the beginning of another Atlantic hurricane season that starts on Sunday, Florida's retailers are gearing up for the sales tax holiday on hurricane preparedness items that begins May 31 and ends June 8.
"The sales tax holiday is great way for retailers to help raise awareness of the need to be prepared, while delivering tax savings for our residents," says Rick McAllister, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation.
The Florida Retail Federation is distributing a flier to members with the tax-exempt items, and encourages residents to visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management for more resources to help prepare for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
In 2004, a catastrophic series of four hurricanes caused losses of more than $25 billion in Florida, and in 2005 another series of hurricanes caused nearly $11 billion in losses, according to estimates from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. In recent years, hurricanes have developed by without causing significant damage in the state.
However, even in a slow storm years, it only takes one to make landfall.
The 2014 holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 8.
Items included in the Sales Tax Holiday
- Portable self-powered light sources selling for $20 or less
- Portable self-powered radio, two-way radio or weather band radio selling for $50 or less
- Tarps or other flexible waterproof sheeting selling for $50 or less
- Self-contained first-aid kits selling for $30 or less
- Ground anchor systems or tie-down kits selling for $50 or less
- Gas or diesel fuel tanks selling for $25 or less
- Battery packages: AA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, selling for $30 or less
- Nonelectric food storage coolers selling for $30 or less
- Portable generators used to preserve food or provide light or communications selling for $750 or less
- Reusable ice selling for $10 or less
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