Preparations for the 2024 hurricane season began with a terrifying storm forecast. “The highest forecast we’ve ever had,” Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service, told the Miami Herald in late May.
The season starts on June 1. It’s time to prepare.
For the second year, Florida is giving you a break on buying hurricane supplies with a few tax exemptions.
The number of storms forecast is obviously a reason to be concerned, Graham said. “But not alarmed.”
So buy what you need and save some money. Here’s what you need to know:
When are hurricane tax holidays in Florida?
▪ The first VAT holiday starts on Saturday 1 June and runs until Friday 14 June.
▪ The second tax holiday period starts in the middle of the season, on August 24, and runs until September 6.
During these tax breaks, Floridians can assemble their hurricane emergency supply kits with eligible household goods, including pet food and supplies, batteries, flashlights, laundry detergent and other necessary items, while avoiding the sales tax.
Remark: The general sales tax in Florida is typically 6%. For example, if you buy $10 worth of pet supplies, you save 60 cents.
Which supplies are tax-free?
Some of the tax-qualifying hurricane supplies include:
Sell for $10 or less
▪ Wet dog or cat food if sold individually or its equivalent if sold in a box or case.
Sells for $15 or less
▪ Manual can openers
▪ More pet supplies such as collapsible or travel size food or water bowls, litter boxes and waste bags for pets, and substrate for hamsters or rabbits. Leashes, collars and muzzles for pets and sanitary pads, as well as cat litter which are more expensive, are also included in the tax credit. Also included are pet kennels or carriers and pet food weighing 50 pounds or less and over-the-counter pet medications that can cost $100 or less.
Sells for $20 or less
▪ Reusable ice.
Sells for $40 or less
▪ Portable, self-contained light sources such as candles, flashlights and lanterns.
Selling for $50 or less
▪ Portable radios with their own power supply, walkie-talkies or weather band radios.
▪ Gas or diesel fuel tanks.
▪ Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, sizes listed only: AA cell, AAA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volts, 9 volts.
Sells for $60 or less
▪ Non-electric food coolers and refrigerators.
▪ Portable power banks.
Sells for $70 or less
▪ Smoke detectors or smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
▪ Fire extinguishers.
Sell for $100 or less
▪ Tarpaulins, Visqueen, plastic tarpaulins, plastic drop cloths and other flexible waterproof tarpaulins.
▪ Ground anchor systems, including bungee cords, mounting kits.
For sale for $3,000 or less
▪ Portable generators used to provide light or communications or to store food during power outages.
