Celebrate Freedom Week in Sarasota

Plan your trip to Sarasota County the first week of July and be happy to find the entire state of Florida celebrating a fairly new holiday known as Freedom Week, which encourages shoppers to make purchases on certain items, attend events, and purchase admission tickets for sport and music events – all without sales tax. Florida officially made Freedom Week a law in 2002 (statute 1003.421), and has since created a buzz for avid shoppers and deal-finders at heart. 

What qualifies for "tax-free"

Boating and Water Supplies will be tax-free:
To the first $75 of the sales price of life jackets and coolers
To the first $50 of the sales price of safety flares
To the first $150 of the sales price of water skis, wakeboards, kneeboards and recreational inflatable water tubes or floats that can be towed
To the first $300 of the sales price of paddle boards and surfboards
To the first $500 of the sales price of canoes and kayaks
To the first $75 of the sales price of paddles and oars
To the first $25 of the sales price of snorkels, goggles and swimming masks

Camping Supplies will be tax-free:
To the first $200 of the sales price of tents
To the first $50 of the sales price of sleeping bags, portable hammocks, camping stoves and collapsible camping chairs
To the first $30 of the sales price of camping lanterns and flashlights

Fishing Supplies will be tax-free:
To the first $75 of the sales price of rods and reels, if sold individually or the first $150 if sold as a set
To the first $30 of the sales price of tackle boxes or bags
To the first $5 of the sales price of bait or fishing tackle, if sold individually, or the first $10 if multiple items are sold together

General Outdoor Supplies will be tax-free:
To the first $15 of the sales price of sunscreen or insect repellant
To the first $100 of the sales price of sunglasses
To the first $200 of the sales price of binoculars
To the first $30 of the sales price of water bottles
To the first $50 of the sales price of hydration packs
To the first $250 of the sales price of outdoor gas or charcoal grills
To the first $50 of the sales price of bicycle helmets
To the first $250 of the sales price of bicycles

Sports Equipment will be tax-free:
To any item used in individual or team sports, not including clothing or footwear, selling for $40 or less

Admission Tickets:
Music events like concerts, sporting events, movies, museum visits, getting into state parks and buying fitness facilities memberships at clubs or gyms will be tax-free from July 1 to July 7, 2022.  The events with admissions purchases will include any event scheduled from July 1 to December 31, 2022, so long as the ticket is bought between July 1 and July 7.