Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday Aug. 3-5: The big tech change and more

Kelly Tyko | Treasure Coast Newspapers

Show Caption Hide Caption Get ready for Florida's sales tax holiday The 2018 back-to-school tax holiday runs Aug. 3-5. KELLY TYKO/TCPALM

First, the bad news.

If you were holding out until Florida's sales tax holiday — which kicks off at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 3 and runs through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 5 — to save a little money on a new computer, printer or other technology item, you're out of luck.

Lawmakers did not include technology items up to $750 in this year's back-to-school tax holiday like they did last year.

Excluding the biggest savings incentive comes on top of changes lawmakers made in 2016 when they shortened the tax holiday from 10 days to three and lowered the tax-free threshold for clothing from $100 to $60.

More: Your savings guide for Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday Aug. 3-5 and beyond

Whether you have kids to shop for or not, this is a rare chance to save at least 6 percent on state and local taxes.

The state will waive sales tax on clothes, footwear and certain accessories selling for $60 or less and most school supplies up to $15.

Ready, set, save. Florida’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins next Friday, August 3. Enjoy tax-free shopping on select items. #TaxFreeWeekend pic.twitter.com/OCx8aSYRGd — Florida Senate (@FLSenate) July 26, 2018

Clothing, accessories

These items are tax-free as long as they cost $60 or less:

Aerobic, fitness clothing

Aprons/clothing shields

Athletic supporters

Baby clothes

Backpacks, book bags

Bandanas

Barrettes and bobby pins

Bathing suits, caps and cover-ups

Belts, belt buckles

Bibs

Blouses

Bicycle helmets (youth only)

Boots (except ski and fishing)

Bowling shoes

Bras

Caps, hats

Cleated and spiked shoes

Coats and wraps

Coin purses

Costumes

Coveralls

Diaper bags

Diapers, diaper inserts (adult and baby, cloth or disposable)

Dresses

Employee uniforms

Fanny packs

Fishing vests

Formal clothing

Gloves (including dress, garden, leather and work gloves, but not for sports)

Graduation caps and gowns

Gym suits and uniforms

Hair nets, bows, clips and hairbands

Handbags, purses

Hosiery

Hunting vests

Insoles

Jackets

Jeans

Lab coats

Leg warmers, leotards, tights

Lingerie

Martial arts attire

Neckwear, ties

Overshoes and rubber shoes

Pants

Raincoats, rain hats and ponchos

Receiving blankets

Robes

Safety clothing, safety shoes

Scarves

Scout uniforms

Shawls, wraps

Shirts

Shoes, shoe inserts

Shoulder pads

Shorts

Ski suits (snow)

Skirts

Sleepwear

Slippers

Slips

Socks

Suits, slacks and jackets

Suspenders

Sweatbands

Sweaters

Swim suits

Tuxedos (excluding rentals)

Underclothes

Uniforms (work, school and athletic, excluding pads)

Vests

Wallets

School supplies

These items are tax-free as long as they cost $15 or less:

Binders

Calculators

Cellophane (transparent) tape

Colored pencils

Compasses

Composition books

Computer disks (blank CDs only)

Construction paper

Crayons

Erasers

Folders

Glue (stick and liquid)

Highlighters

Legal pads

Lunch boxes

Markers

Notebook filler paper

Notebooks

Paste

Pencils, including mechanical and refills

Pens, including felt, ballpoint, fountain and refills

Poster board, poster paper

Protractors

Rulers

Scissors

Source: Florida Department of Reveneue, www.floridarevenue.com/backtoschool

Kelly Tyko is a consumer columnist and retail reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers and TCPalm.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Read her Bargainista tips at TCPalm.com/Bargainista, follow her on Twitter @KellyTyko and email her at kelly.tyko@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her weekly newsletter at www.tcpalm.com/featured-newsletter/bargainistabest.