Florida’s 2026 Fishing and Camping Sales Tax Holiday: South Florida Savings

Florida’s four-month hunting, fishing and camping sales tax holiday can cut 6.5% or 7% from qualifying outdoor gear in South Florida. The important detail is that most fishing and camping items have per-item price ceilings—not a single limit for the entire purchase.

By SoFlo Times Staff | Updated August 27, 2026

When the 2026 tax holiday begins and ends

The exemption begins Tuesday, September 1, and ends Thursday, December 31, 2026. An eligible purchase made before September 1 or after December 31 remains taxable.

The dates and rules come from the Florida Department of Revenue’s Tax Information Publication 26A01-06, issued July 1, 2026. The holiday was established by Section 43 of Chapter 2026-239, Laws of Florida.

This is also hurricane season. If outdoor purchases are part of a broader household plan, review our guide to reading South Florida’s 2026 hurricane cone separately; emergency supplies are not automatically exempt under this fishing and camping holiday.

Fishing and camping price caps

The price test applies to each item or qualifying set. A product priced even one cent above its ceiling does not receive a partial exemption.

The holiday also covers specified hunting supplies, including ammunition, firearms, bows, crossbows and listed accessories. TIP 26A01-06 does not state per-item price caps for those categories. This guide’s calculations focus on fishing and camping purchases.

What remains taxable

The exemption does not cover rentals, repairs or purchases for commercial use. It also does not apply to sales made inside a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport, according to the Department’s 2026 consumer guidance.

That means a qualifying sleeping bag bought at a regular South Florida retailer may be exempt, while the same item purchased from a hotel shop remains taxable. Renting a tent or repairing a fishing reel also remains taxable.

Products not named in the official list should not be assumed eligible merely because they are used outdoors. Ask the retailer to verify an uncertain SKU against TIP 26A01-06 before paying.

Savings in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

For the baskets below, multiply the eligible subtotal by 0.07 in Miami-Dade or Broward and by 0.065 in Palm Beach. These rates combine Florida’s 6% sales tax with each county’s 2026 discretionary surtax.

In Miami-Dade County, qualifying purchases from September 1 through December 31, 2026, avoid Florida’s 6% sales tax and the county’s 1% surtax—a combined 7%. A tent priced at the $200 eligibility ceiling therefore saves $14, according to Florida Department of Revenue TIP 26A01-06 and 2026 Form DR-15DSS.

In Broward County, eligible holiday purchases avoid a combined 7% tax because the county adds a 1% surtax to Florida’s 6% rate. A qualifying $150 rod-and-reel set saves $10.50, while a $50 sleeping bag saves $3.50, according to TIP 26A01-06 and 2026 Form DR-15DSS.

Palm Beach County shoppers save 6.5% on eligible holiday purchases: Florida’s 6% sales tax plus the county’s 0.5% surtax. That produces $13 in savings on a qualifying $200 tent or $9.75 on a $150 rod-and-reel set, according to TIP 26A01-06 and 2026 Form DR-15DSS.

The county rates are listed in the Department’s 2026 Form DR-15DSS. Palm Beach County’s surtax fell from 1% to 0.5% on January 1, 2026.

Three sample South Florida baskets

These are illustrative checkout prices—not advertised retailer offers—calculated as of August 2026. Confirm the price and tax treatment of each item before buying.

Family tent-camping basket

A practical setup for tent camping at Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park, 12451 SW 184th Street in southwest Miami-Dade:

• Tent: $199.99
• Two collapsible chairs: $79.98
• Two sleeping bags: $99.98
• Lantern: $29.99
• Camping stove: $49.99

Eligible subtotal: $459.93

• Miami-Dade or Broward savings at 7%: $32.20
• Palm Beach savings at 6.5%: $29.90

Fishing starter basket

A basic setup for freshwater fishing near Markham Park, 16001 W. State Road 84 in Sunrise:

• Rod-and-reel set: $149.99
• Tackle bag: $29.99
• Fishing tackle set: $19.99
• Bait: $9.99

Eligible subtotal: $209.96

• Broward or Miami-Dade savings at 7%: $14.70
• Palm Beach savings at 6.5%: $13.65

Two-person camping and fishing basket

For a trip near John Prince Park Campground, 4759 South Congress Avenue in Lake Worth:

• Tent: $200
• Camping stove: $50
• Two portable hammocks: $100
• Two rod-and-reel sets: $300

Eligible subtotal: $650

• Palm Beach savings at 6.5%: $42.25
• The same basket in Miami-Dade or Broward saves $45.50

Checkout rules that can change the result

Before paying, check these details:

• Online orders: A qualifying remote order is exempt when the seller accepts it during the holiday for immediate shipment. Delivery may occur later. An email confirmation or assigned order number can establish acceptance.
• Shipping: Allocated shipping can count toward an item’s sales price. A $195 tent with $10 in allocated shipping reaches $205 and misses the $200 ceiling.
• Coupons: A store-funded coupon or discount reduces the sales price. A manufacturer-funded coupon generally does not because the retailer is reimbursed, under Florida’s statutory definition of sales price.
• Mixed bundles: When an exempt item is packaged with taxable merchandise as one unit, the entire bundle is taxable.
• Returns and exchanges: Exchanging an eligible purchase later for the same item in another size or color does not trigger tax. Applying the return credit to a different, nonqualifying item does.
• Incorrect tax: Keep the receipt and request a refund directly from the retailer. The Department’s consumer FAQ recommends showing the business TIP 26A01-06 if necessary.

The temporary exemption expires after December 31, 2026. Subscribe to the SoFlo Times newsletter for South Florida seasonal guides, local deadlines and practical weekend planning.