Celebrate Freedom Week in Sarasota
Make your purchases count in Sarasota County during summer's Freedom Week
Make your purchases count in Sarasota County during summer's Freedom Week
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.