π§Ύ Florida Sales Tax Calculator
6% state rate plus your county surtax, done right.
Total with Florida sales tax
Estimates for planning only, not financial advice.
Florida charges 6% state sales tax on most retail purchases, and your county can add a discretionary surtax of up to 2%, so the combined rate runs from 6% in counties with no surtax to 8% in the highest-taxed counties. Miami-Dade and Broward sit at 7%, Tampa-area Hillsborough at 7.5%, and a few counties reach the full 8%. One quirk most people miss: the county surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of a single item, while the 6% state tax hits the full price.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter the price before tax and your county surtax rate. The calculator splits the bill into state tax and county surtax, applies the $5,000 surtax cap automatically, and gives you the out-the-door total.
Enter the purchase price before tax, the number on the price tag.
Enter your county surtax as a percent: 0 if your county has none, 1 for Miami-Dade or Broward, 1.5 for Hillsborough, up to 2 for the highest counties.
Read the state tax, the capped surtax, and the total. For a running budget view of what purchases really cost you, our general sales tax calculator covers any state.
The Florida Sales Tax Formula
The $5,000 cap is the part that surprises people. Buy a $1,200 laptop in a 1% surtax county and the surtax hits the whole $1,200. Buy an $8,000 boat motor in a 2% surtax county and the surtax stops at $5,000, so you pay $100 of surtax instead of $160. The 6% state portion never caps. Florida is also destination-based for delivery sales: the surtax follows the county where the buyer takes delivery, not where the seller sits.
Worked Example
Buy a $1,200 television in Broward County, where the surtax is 1%. State tax is $1,200 x 6% = $72.00. The surtax applies to the full price since it is under $5,000: $1,200 x 1% = $12.00. Total tax is $84.00 and the out-the-door price is $1,284.00 at a combined 7% rate. Now the cap version: an $8,000 purchase in a 2% county pays $480 in state tax plus only $100 of surtax (2% of the first $5,000), for $580 total. That $60 saving is the cap doing its job.
What Florida Sales Tax Does Not Touch
Groceries meant to be cooked at home are exempt, which is why your Publix run taxes the rotisserie chicken but not the raw one. Prescription drugs and most medical items are exempt. Most professional services are not taxed either, though commercial rent and some services are. If you are a business owner, the flip side matters more: Florida requires sellers to register, collect, and remit, and the filing frequency depends on how much you collect. The Department of Revenue updates county surtax rates each year, so verify your county before quoting customers.
My honest take: the surtax table is the whole game in Florida. The 6% state rate never moves, so two shoppers ten miles apart can pay different totals on the same item. Check your county, apply the $5,000 cap on big single items, and you will never be surprised at the register. For income-side planning in a state with no income tax, the paycheck calculator shows what lands in your account.
One more trap: the tourist-heavy counties add a separate tourist development tax on hotel stays, which stacks on top of sales tax. A 7% combined sales tax plus a 6% bed tax means a hotel bill can carry 13% in taxes. Budget travel accordingly.
Estimates for planning only, not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Florida sales tax rate in 2026?
The state rate is 6% everywhere in Florida. Counties add a discretionary surtax from 0% to 2%, so combined rates run 6% to 8%. Miami-Dade and Broward are at 7%, Hillsborough and Duval at 7.5%, and Hamilton County reaches 8%. Citrus and Collier counties currently add no surtax, so the rate there is the flat 6%.
What is the $5,000 surtax cap?
County surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of a single item of tangible personal property. On an $8,000 item in a 2% county, you pay $100 of surtax, not $160. The 6% state tax still applies to the full $8,000. The cap is per item, not per receipt.
Which county rate applies to online orders?
Florida is destination-based: the surtax rate of the county where the buyer takes delivery applies. Order from a Tampa seller and have it shipped to Miami, and Miami-Dade's surtax is the one that counts. Vehicle sales are the notable exception, taxed where the car is registered.
Are groceries taxed in Florida?
Unprepared groceries for home consumption are exempt. Prepared food, restaurant meals, candy, and soft drinks are taxable. The classic test: the raw chicken is exempt, the hot rotisserie chicken is taxed.
Does Florida tax services?
Most professional and personal services are not subject to sales tax, which is one reason service businesses cluster in Florida. Exceptions exist, including commercial rent, transient rentals, and some repair services. When in doubt, check the Department of Revenue's taxable services list.
What are Florida's sales tax holidays?
Florida runs several temporary holidays most years, typically covering back-to-school supplies and clothing, disaster preparedness items before hurricane season, and sometimes tools or outdoor gear. Dates and caps change yearly, so check the current year's schedule before planning a big purchase.
Do I need to collect sales tax as a Florida seller?
If you sell taxable goods in Florida or ship into Florida with economic nexus, generally over $100,000 in prior-year sales, you must register for a sales tax permit and remit. Returns are due by the 20th of the month after each reporting period, with penalties up to 50% of tax owed for late filing.
Is there sales tax on cars in Florida?
Yes, 6% state plus the buyer's county surtax, subject to the $5,000 surtax cap. On a $40,000 car in a 1% county, you pay $2,400 state tax plus $50 surtax. Dealer fees and add-ons included in the sale price are generally taxable too.
Why do two nearby cities have different rates?
Because the surtax is set county by county through local referenda and ordinances. Cross a county line and the rate can jump a full point. Border shoppers notice: the same $1,000 appliance costs $10 more in tax for each extra surtax point.
Does Florida have a state income tax to offset this?
No. Florida's constitution prohibits a personal income tax, which is exactly why sales and property taxes carry more weight here than in most states. Visitors and residents alike pay the sales tax, which spreads the burden to tourists. There is no state return to file on your wages.