Florida Sales Tax Rate and What It Covers

Florida's state sales tax is 6 percent. Most counties add a local tax on top of that, ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 percent, so your total rate depends on where you buy. The combined rate in your county is what you see on the receipt.

Sales tax applies to most goods you buy in stores — clothing, groceries, electronics, furniture, and household items. It does not apply to services like haircuts, car repairs, or doctor visits. Some items have their own rules: groceries for home use are taxed at a lower rate (currently 0 percent for most food), while prepared food and restaurant meals are taxed at the full rate.

The seller collects the tax at checkout and sends it to the state and county. You do not file anything yourself as a buyer — the tax is already included in what you pay.

Key Takeaways

  • Florida's state sales tax is 6 percent, and your county adds between 0.5 and 2.5 percent on top, so your total rate varies by location.
  • Sales tax applies to most goods but not to services, and groceries for home use are taxed at a lower rate than restaurant meals.
  • The seller collects and sends the tax to the state and county — you do not file paperwork or take any action as a buyer.
  • Some items like prescription medications and medical equipment are exempt from sales tax entirely.

Which County You Are In Determines Your Total Rate

Because each county sets its own local tax, the rate you pay changes depending on where you shop. Miami-Dade County, for example, has a 7 percent total rate (6 percent state plus 1 percent local). Broward County is 7 percent as well. Duval County is 7.5 percent. A county in the Panhandle might be 6.5 percent.

If you buy something online from a Florida seller, you pay the sales tax rate of the county where the seller is located, not where you live. If you order from outside Florida, you typically do not pay Florida sales tax at checkout, though some large retailers now collect it anyway.

Your receipt shows the total rate applied. If you need to know your exact county rate for budgeting or business purposes, the Florida Department of Revenue website lists all county rates.

What Is Exempt From Sales Tax

Certain items and categories do not have sales tax added. Prescription medications are exempt. Medical equipment like wheelchairs, crutches, and diabetic supplies are exempt. Groceries — food you buy to cook at home — are taxed at 0 percent. This includes bread, milk, vegetables, meat, and canned goods.

The line between groceries and prepared food matters. A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store deli is prepared food and is taxed at the full rate. A raw chicken from the meat counter is not. A sandwich from the deli counter is taxed. A loaf of bread is not.

Services are not taxed. Haircuts, plumbing repairs, dental work, and car maintenance do not have sales tax. If you buy a product and a service together — for example, a haircut plus a product the salon sells you — the product is taxed but the service is not.

How Sales Tax Affects Your Budget

Sales tax is added to the price shown on the shelf or online. If an item costs $10 and your local rate is 7 percent, you pay $10.70. This means the actual cost is always higher than the sticker price unless the item is exempt.

For groceries, the lower tax rate (or zero rate) means your food budget goes further than it would in a state with full sales tax on all groceries. For other purchases, budgeting means adding your local rate to the listed price to know what you will actually pay.

If you are on a fixed income or managing a tight budget, knowing which items are exempt — especially groceries and medications — helps you plan spending more accurately.

Sales Tax on Online and Out-of-State Purchases

If you buy from a Florida business online, you pay Florida sales tax at the seller's location rate. If you buy from a business outside Florida, the rules depend on the seller's size and structure. Large retailers like Amazon now collect Florida sales tax on most items. Smaller out-of-state sellers may not collect it at checkout.

You are not required to track and report sales tax you did not pay on out-of-state purchases. This is different from income tax, which has different rules. For most household purchases, the tax is either collected at checkout or not — you do not file anything.

If you own a business and buy inventory or equipment, sales tax rules are more complex and depend on whether you have a resale certificate. That is a separate topic from consumer purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my receipt total higher than the price on the shelf?

Sales tax is added at checkout. The shelf price does not include tax. Your local sales tax rate (state plus county) is multiplied by the price and added to your total. If you see a $10 item and your rate is 7 percent, you pay $10.70.

Are groceries taxed in Florida?

Most groceries are taxed at 0 percent — items like milk, bread, vegetables, and meat for home cooking. Prepared foods like deli sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, and restaurant meals are taxed at the full rate. The difference is whether the food is ready to eat.

Do I pay sales tax on prescriptions?

No. Prescription medications are exempt from sales tax in Florida. Over-the-counter medications like aspirin or cold medicine are taxed at the full rate, but anything requiring a prescription is not.

What if I buy something online from out of state?

Large online retailers collect Florida sales tax on most purchases. Smaller sellers may not. You do not need to track or report tax you did not pay — there is no separate filing required for consumer purchases.

How do I find out my county's exact sales tax rate?

The Florida Department of Revenue publishes all county rates on its website. You can also check your receipt from any purchase — the rate applied is listed there. Rates range from 6 percent to 8.5 percent depending on your county.