Today was the beginning of Florida's sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness.  The 2006 holiday runs from Sunday, May 21st through Thursday, June 1st.  No sales tax shall be collected on specific items related to hurricane preparedness. The specific items must be in the price ranges specified on the list.

Click here for a list of tax-exempt hurricane preparedness items (in PDF format).

A few stores are discounting some items by matching the tax-exempt portion. As an example, if a generator would normally sell for $600, the store is offering it for $564, tax-free, for a total savings of $72.  The amount calculated above is based on a 6% sales tax; some Florida counties have a tax rate that is slightly higher.

For the 12 days just before the official start of hurricane season,  Florida residents will be able to save money when purchasing certain hurricane supplies in limited quantities.  The hurricane supplies sales tax holiday runs from May 21 - June 1.  Florida lawmakers expect to get the governor's signature on it by the end of this week.

This is expected to encourage residents to become self-sufficient for the first 3 days following a hurricane.  Governor Bush is pushing for a "culture of preparedness" so that Floridians can be better equipped to reduce hurricane damage and public dependency on the government's help in providing water, ice and other essentials. 

Although this is the second year that the hurricane supply sales tax holiday is taking place, it will now become a permanent Florida holiday that will coincide with National Hurricane Preparedness Week. 

Some notable improvements to the list of items that will be tax-free include the addition of carbon monoxide detectors (important to have when using a generator), storm shutters (up to a cost of $200 each, but does not include plywood), and an increase in the amount allowed for generators (double last year's tax break of $500 - now it's $1,000).  Other items exempt from sales tax during the hurricane preparedness tax holiday include many types of batteries (AAA batteries are not included), flashlights, radios, tie-down kits, ice chests or coolers (except electrical coolers).

Be sure to mark your calendars... May 21 - June 1, 2006.