Which groceries are free of sales tax in Florida?

The Florida Department of Revenue lists the general grocery items that are exempt: cereal and cereal products, baked goods, meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, fruit, vegetables, spices and salt. Baby food, butter, honey and cake mixes are exempt too. Chips, pretzels, popcorn, peanuts and crackers are exempt when they are sold to be eaten somewhere other than the store.

Some items in a grocery store are taxed. The department lists soft drinks, such as soda, lemonade, fruit drinks and milkshakes; candy and chewing gum; hot prepared food; sandwiches sold ready to eat; and ice cream in cones, small cups or pints. Ice cream in containers larger than a pint, bought to take home, is exempt. Food sold to be eaten right away, at the store or somewhere else, is taxed, so ready-to-eat food costs more in tax than the same groceries taken home.

These rules come from section 212.08 of the Florida Statutes. The Florida Department of Revenue is the state agency that administers Florida's tax laws, including the sales tax, and publishes guidance on which items are taxed. For a question about a particular item, its Taxpayer Services line is 850-488-6800, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.

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