Florida Sales Tax Guide
Florida's state sales tax is 6%, with county-level discretionary surtaxes adding 0.5%–1.5% in most counties. The combined effective sales-tax rate ranges from 6% (a small number of counties) up to 7.5% (most populous counties).
Discretionary sales surtax is set by each county and applies to the first $5,000 of any single transaction.
Groceries (most unprepared food) and prescription drugs are exempt from Florida sales tax. Prepared food, candy, soft drinks, and dietary supplements are taxable.
Florida also runs annual sales-tax holidays — back-to-school, disaster preparedness, and freedom summer — covering specified categories at $0 sales tax for short windows.
Sales tax is a less-discussed but real piece of Florida cost-of-living math. A Texas-comparable basket of taxable spending shows Texas slightly higher (Texas state rate is 6.25%, with up to 2% local).
Frequently asked questions
Are groceries taxed in Florida?+
Most unprepared groceries are exempt. Prepared food, restaurant meals, and snacks like candy and soft drinks are taxable.
What is the highest sales tax in Florida?+
Combined state plus county discretionary surtax tops out at 7.5% in most populous counties; a few rural counties run as low as 6.5%.