TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Florida retailers feel last weekend's back-to-school sales tax holiday went better than expected, considering electronics were not on the list of tax free items for 2018.
While official sales numbers won’t be available until next month, shops are saying the weekend event was good for business.
The tax-free period on clothes, footwear and school supplies ran from Aug. 3-5.
It is estimated the average consumer saved about $50 in state and local taxes over the weekend.
“Everybody just feels good about their own economic situation. People have a little more money in their pockets to spend," said James Miller, with the Florida Retail Federation. "A lot of people are employed. Add all of those factors together, and I think it made up for what was feared to be a lower season because of no technology."
Miller says retailers will push for a 10 day sales tax holiday next year that once again includes tax breaks for electronics and tech items.
This year's back-to-school holiday was part of a larger tax-cut package totaling about $170 million passed by lawmakers during the 2018 legislative session.
The tax package was scaled back in the final weeks of session, as lawmakers shifted budget priorities after the February 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
