DeSantis signs largest tax-relief package in state history

Gov. Ron DeSantis Friday, May 6, signed a bill that will provide more than $1.2 billion in tax relief.

House Bill 7071 provides for 10 sales-tax holidays for a variety of items, such as fuel, diapers, appliances and more. 

Additionally, permanent tax relief provided in the legislation consists of various sales tax exemptions, corporate income tax credit expansions, and ad valorem tax and exemption provisions. These will generate an additional $190 million in savings over two years and $140 million annually after that.

“Florida’s economy has consistently outpaced the nation, but we are still fighting against inflationary policies imposed on us by the Biden administration,” DeSantis said. “In Florida, we are going to support our residents and help them afford the goods that they need. Florida has been fiscally responsible, so we are in a good position to provide meaningful relief for families, right now.”

“The Florida House’s tax package — the largest middle-class tax relief package in the history of the state — is now the law of the land,” House Speaker Chris Sprowls said. “A bill like this has never been more needed than it is right now. Reckless federal spending sent inflation rates spiraling higher than we’ve seen in generations, and Floridians are feeling the impacts. From tools to diapers to books for summer reading, this billion-dollar tax package includes something for every Floridian, and that’s what I’m most proud of."

“Florida cannot independently fix or outrun all of the problems leading to the cost increases that are wreaking havoc on families, especially our most vulnerable,” Senate President Wilton Simpson said. “However, we are working to ease the pain with broad-based sales tax relief and a monthlong gas tax holiday."

THE 10 TAX HOLIDAYS
• A one-month Fuel Tax Holiday from Oct. 1 to 31, 2022, saving Floridians $200 million by lowering the price of gas by 25.3 cents per gallon.

• A three-month sales-tax holiday for children’s books from May 14 through Aug. 14, 2022, providing $3.3 million in tax relief.

• A one-year sales-tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for baby and toddler clothes and shoes, providing $81.5 million in tax relief.

• A one-year sales-tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for children’s diapers, providing $38.9 million in tax relief.

• A 14-day Back-to-School sales-tax holiday from July 25 through Aug. 7, 2022, for clothing, shoes, backpacks and school supplies, providing $100 million in tax relief.

• A 14-day Disaster Preparedness sales-tax holiday from May 28 through June 10, 2022, for supplies such as flashlights, radios, tarps, batteries and fire extinguishers, providing $25.6 million in tax relief.

• A seven-day Tool-Time sales-tax holiday from Sept. 3 to 9, 2022, for tools and other home-improvement items, providing $12.4 million in tax relief.

• A two-year sales-tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024, for impact resistant windows, doors and garage doors, providing $442.8 million in tax relief.

• A seven-day Freedom Week from July 1 to 7, 2022, providing a sales tax exemption for specified admissions and items related to recreational activities, providing $70.6 million in tax relief.

• A one-year Energy Star Appliances sales-tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for washing machines, clothes dryers, water heaters and refrigerators, providing $78.5 million in tax relief.

For more information about the tax holidays, click here.