TOOLS WILL BE TAX EXEMPT SEPTEMBER 3RD THROUGH 9TH

Florida’s “Tool Time” Sales Tax Holiday begins on Saturday, September 3rd and ends on Friday, September 9th. During this week, sales tax will not be charged on the retail sale of eligible items used by skilled trade workers.

Here is a list of items that will be tax-free during the Tool Time Sales Tax Holiday:

  • Selling for $25 or less:  work gloves
  • Selling for $50 or less:  duffle bags, hand tools, LED flashlights, protective coveralls, safety glasses, and tote bags
  • Selling for $75 or less:  toolboxes
  • Selling for $100 or less:  electrical voltage and testing equipment, shop lights, and tool belts
  • Selling for $125 or less:  industry code books and textbooks
  • Selling for $150 or less:  drain opening tools, handheld pipe cutters, plumbing inspection equipment, and power tool batteries
  • Selling for $175 or less:  work boots
  • Selling for $300 or less:  power tools and toolboxes for vehicles

If your business needs to purchase any of these items, the sales tax holiday may be a good time to do so. And if your business sells any of these

items, you must temporarily stop collecting the state sales tax on them during the Sales Tax

Holiday. For more information from the Florida Department of Revenue, please click here.

WORK LIMITATIONS FOR TEENS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR

When school starts, there are limitations on when teens under the age of 18 can work. If your business has employees under 18, you need to know how the rules change once summer is over and school begins.

Work restrictions for 14 and 15-year-olds during the school year:

  • Cannot work during school hours.
  • Cannot work before 7 am or after 7 pm from Labor Day to June 1st.
  • Can work up to 3 hours a day on school days.
  • Can work up to 8 hours a day (until 7 pm) on Saturdays, Sundays, and non-school days when they do not have school the next day.
  • Can work up to 15 hours per week.

Work restrictions for 16 and 17-year-olds during the school year:

  • Cannot work during school hours unless they are enrolled in a school-to-work experience program, career education, or other program, or they have received a waiver.
  • Cannot work before 6:30 am or after 11:00 pm when school is scheduled the following day.
  • Can work up to 8 hours a day when school is scheduled for the following day.
  • On days when school does not follow, there are no restrictions on how many hours they can work.
  • Can work up to 30 hours a week.

Year-round requirements for all employees under the age of 18:

  • They must be given a 30-minute break after working 4 consecutive hours. The break can be unpaid.
  • They cannot work more than 6 days in a row.
  • They must be paid at least the Florida minimum wage. As of the date of this newsletter, the Florida minimum wage is $10.00 per hour, with a minimum cash wage for tipped employees of $6.98 per hour. Please note:  the Florida minimum wage will increase a dollar an hour on September 30, 2022.
  • Businesses with employees under 18 must post a Child Labor poster at their workplace and keep a copy of the employee’s driver’s license or birth certificate as proof of their age.
  • Certain jobs are prohibited year-round for employees under 18. Please refer to the Child Labor poster for more details.

FUBA members can email us at fuba@fuba.org to request a free child labor poster. FUBA members with questions can call our offices at 800-262-4483 or email fuba@fuba.org.

STATE-ISSUED CONSTRUCTION AND ELECTRICAL LICENSES MUST BE RENEWED BY AUGUST 31ST

The following types of contractor’s licenses issued by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) have to be renewed by August 31st of each even year:

  • Certified construction contractor’s licenses
  • Certified electrical contractor’s licenses
  • Registered electrical contractor’s licenses

Licenses can be renewed at the DBPR website by clicking here. Renewal fees have been discounted for the month of August:

  • Active certified construction contractor’s license:  $105, or $130 with a qualified business.
  • Active certified electrical contractor’s license:  $223.25.
  • Active registered electrical contractor’s license:  $39.50.

Certified contractors have passed a state licensing exam and can work anywhere in Florida. Registered contractors do not have to take an exam but can only work in the local area that issued their license.

Special note:  Only certain types of contractors have to be licensed, like building contractors, roofers, sheet metal, plumbing, electrical, etc. This article only applies to those licenses that are either issued by or registered with the State of Florida. Some construction work does not require a state license, such as cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint, wallpaper, and window treatments. While this work may require a local license in your city or county, you are not required to have a state license. This article only applies if you hold a state construction or electrical contractor’s license or a registered electrical contractor’s license.