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Disaster items are tax-free in Florida as state prepares for Idalia

The tax-free holiday in Florida runs through Sept. 8.
Customers at a store prepare for a storm in Florida.
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Florida's Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is taking place as people prepare for Idalia, which is expected to become a major hurricane. 

During the tax-free holiday, which runs through Sept. 8, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax.

Tax-free items $20 or less

-Dog or cat food if sold individually or the equivalent if sold in a box or case

-Manual can openers

-Collapsible or travel-sized food or water bowls for pets

-Cat litter pans

-Pet waste disposal bags

-Hamster or rabbit substrate

-Reusable ice

-Leashes, collars and muzzles for pets

-Pet pads

Tax-free items between $21 and $59

-Laundry detergent and supplies: powder, liquid, or pod detergent; fabric softener; dryer sheets; stain removers; bleach

-Toilet paper, paper towels, paper napkins and tissues, facial tissues

-Hand soap, bar soap and body wash, sunscreen and sunblock

-Dish soap and detergents, including powder, liquid, or pod detergents or rinse agents that can be used in dishwashers

-Cleaning or disinfecting wipes and sprays, hand sanitizer

-Trash bags

-Portable self-powered light sources

-Pet beds

-Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios, or weather-band radios

-Gas or diesel fuel tanks

-Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only:

AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, 9-volt

Tax-free items over $60

-Nonelectric food storage coolers

-Portable power banks

-Smoke detectors or smoke alarms

-Fire extinguishers

-Carbon monoxide detectors

-Tarps or other flexible waterproof sheeting

-Ground anchor systems

-Portable pet kennels or pet carriers

-Over-the-counter pet medications

-Portable generators used to provide light or communications or to preserve food in a power outage

Hurricane warning issued for Florida Gulf Coast as Idalia strengthens
Satellite picture of the tropical storm's clouds.

Hurricane warning issued for Florida Gulf Coast as Idalia strengthens

Tropical Storm Idalia is impacting Cuba on Monday, but by Wednesday, it could strike Florida as a major hurricane.

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