Florida Sales Tax Holiday Guide for New Homeowners: Hurricane Supplies, Impact Windows and More
October 1, 2026 · 8 min read · By Onias Derilus, Broker
Florida has changed how it handles tax-free shopping. Hurricane kit items are now tax free all year, a refund covers impact windows and doors, and two seasonal holidays remain. Here is how new homeowners can plan.
A Florida sales tax holiday used to be the main way to save on hurricane supplies. Each spring or summer, new homeowners would wait for a short window to stock up on generators, batteries and tarps. That has changed. Since August 1, 2025, many of those items are tax free every day of the year. Florida also added a sales tax refund for impact windows and doors in 2026, and it still runs two seasonal holidays. This guide explains what qualifies, the dates to know and how to plan your purchases after you buy a home.
Key takeaways
- Since August 1, 2025, items such as portable generators, common batteries, tarps, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are always exempt from Florida sales tax.
- The 2026 Hunting, Fishing, and Camping Sales Tax Holiday runs from September 1 through December 31, 2026, and includes flashlights and camping lanterns priced at $30 or less.
- The 2026 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday ran from July 20 through August 20, 2026.
- Owners of homesteaded, site-built homes with a just value of $700,000 or less can claim a refund of up to $500 in sales tax on impact windows, impact doors and impact garage doors bought from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.
- Keep every receipt. The impact window refund is claimed after the purchase, not at the register.
How the Florida sales tax holiday has changed
For years, Florida ran short disaster preparedness holidays, often for a week or two before hurricane season. Shoppers had to buy within those dates and stay under price limits. Then in 2025, the Legislature made many of those items exempt all year.
According to the Florida Department of Revenue's Tax Information Publication 25A01-05, the change took effect on August 1, 2025. So a new homeowner no longer has to wait for a holiday to buy a generator or a box of batteries. Instead, the exemption applies whenever you shop, as long as the item fits the definition.
That said, Florida still has other tax-free periods and a new refund program. Each has its own rules, so it helps to know which one applies to what you are buying.
Hurricane supplies that are now always tax free
The Department of Revenue lists these items as always exempt since August 1, 2025. Some have size or capacity limits, which are noted below.
- Batteries in AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt sizes
- Bicycle helmets, now including adult sizes
- Carbon monoxide alarms that meet the state definition
- Fire extinguishers that meet the state definition
- Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
- Insect repellent that is EPA registered and meant for skin
- Life jackets approved by the U.S. Coast Guard
- Portable gas or diesel cans of 5 gallons or less
- Portable generators that produce 10,000 running watts or less
- Smoke detection devices
- Sunscreen, not including cosmetics
- Waterproof tarps and sheeting of 1,000 square feet or less
For a new homeowner, the generator is usually the big item. Check the running watts on the box, not just the peak watts. Also, before you buy, think about where you will run it safely outside, how you will store fuel and whether you want a transfer switch. An electrician can tell you whether that work needs a permit.
The 2026 Florida sales tax holiday for camping gear
The 2026 Hunting, Fishing, and Camping Sales Tax Holiday runs from September 1 through December 31, 2026. It is aimed at outdoor gear, but several items double as storm supplies. The camping limits are below.
- Camping lanterns and flashlights priced at $30 or less
- Camping stoves, portable hammocks, collapsible camping chairs and sleeping bags priced at $50 or less
- Tents priced at $200 or less
So if your hurricane kit is short on flashlights or a camp stove, this window covers the rest of the 2026 season. In fact, a battery lantern and a camp stove are two items many families wish they had after a long power outage. The holiday does not apply to rentals or to purchases for commercial use.
The back-to-school Florida sales tax holiday
Florida's 2026 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday ran from Monday, July 20, through Thursday, August 20, 2026. During that period, tax was not due on these items:
- Clothing, shoes, wallets, bags and backpacks priced at $100 or less per item
- Certain school supplies priced at $50 or less per item
- Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles priced at $30 or less
- Personal computers and certain accessories priced at $1,500 or less, bought for home or personal use
This holiday matters to families who just moved, because a new home often comes with a new school. The computer limit can also help if you are setting up a home office. However, cell phones and game consoles do not qualify. Florida now calls this an annual holiday, but the dates can change from year to year, so check the new notice each summer.
The impact window and door refund
This is the newest program, and it is the one that matters most to many homeowners. Florida now offers a sales tax refund on home-hardening products. Unlike a Florida sales tax holiday, you pay tax at the register and then ask for it back.
What qualifies
According to Tax Information Publication 26A01-09, qualifying products are impact-resistant doors, impact-resistant garage doors and impact-resistant windows. They must be bought from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. They must also be rated under one of the listed test standards. Your installer or the product paperwork should show this.
The refund covers the Florida sales tax you paid, including any county discretionary sales surtax. It cannot be claimed at the point of sale. So when you get quotes, ask the installer to list the windows and doors as separate line items with the tax shown. That makes your claim much easier to document later.
Which homes are eligible
The home must be a site-built dwelling with a Florida homestead exemption. Its just value must be $700,000 or less. Mobile homes and manufactured homes do not qualify. Also, each owner can claim a refund for only one property, and the total refund cannot exceed $500.
How to claim the refund
The owner files Form DR-26S, the general sales tax refund application, along with Form DR-26HH for home-hardening products. You also send copies of receipts that show the Florida sales tax you paid. Claims are accepted from July 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029. Because the refund depends on homestead status, file your homestead exemption first if you just bought the home.
How new homeowners can plan around each Florida sales tax holiday
Buying a home often comes with a long shopping list. A little planning around these rules can save real money, especially in your first hurricane season.
- Right after closing, buy the always exempt basics: batteries, smoke and CO alarms, a fire extinguisher and tarps.
- Decide on a generator before June. Since generators are always exempt, you can buy early and skip the rush when a storm is coming.
- Use the camping holiday, from September through December in 2026, for flashlights, lanterns and a camp stove.
- File for homestead by March 1 of the year after you buy, since the impact window refund depends on it.
- Get quotes for impact windows and doors, then keep every receipt and product approval for the refund claim.
- Ask your insurance agent whether new openings or a wind mitigation inspection could lower your premium.
For more on first year costs, see our guide to property taxes in Florida. You can also read about hurricane insurance in Florida before you shop for coverage.
Why storm prep matters in Palm Beach County
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center. In coastal cities such as West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach, many homes were built before today's wind codes. Upgrades such as impact windows can protect the home and appeal to buyers later.
When you eventually sell, those upgrades are worth listing clearly. Buyers here often ask about window protection, roof age and generator hookups. So save your permits and receipts in one folder. They help with the refund now and with your sale later.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Florida sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies in 2026?
Not as a separate holiday. Since August 1, 2025, many hurricane supplies, including portable generators, batteries and tarps, are tax free all year. Flashlights and lanterns of $30 or less are tax free during the camping holiday from September 1 to December 31, 2026.
Are impact windows tax free in Florida?
Not at the register. However, owners of eligible homesteaded homes can claim a refund of up to $500 in sales tax paid on impact windows, doors and garage doors bought from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.
Do generators have a price limit?
The Department of Revenue's notice sets a size limit rather than a price limit. Portable generators that produce 10,000 running watts or less qualify.
When is the next back-to-school Florida sales tax holiday?
The 2026 holiday ran from July 20 through August 20. Florida treats it as an annual holiday, so watch for the Department of Revenue notice each summer for the next dates.
Can a renter claim the impact window refund?
No. The refund is only for the owner who holds title to an eligible homesteaded home.
Sources
- Florida Department of Revenue, TIP 25A01-05, New Sales Tax Exemptions Beginning August 1, 2025
- Florida Department of Revenue, TIP 26A01-06, 2026 Hunting, Fishing, and Camping Sales Tax Holiday
- Florida Department of Revenue, TIP 26A01-11, Annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
- Florida Department of Revenue, TIP 26A01-09, Home-Hardening Products Exemption
- National Hurricane Center, tropical cyclone climatology
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Tax rules and dates change, so check the Florida Department of Revenue or a licensed tax professional about your own purchases.
Added impact windows or a generator? Upgrades like these can matter to buyers. Get a free home value report to see what your home could sell for today. Moving to Palm Beach County? Request a free relocation consultation, and we will help you find a home that is ready for storm season. Contact our team.
