Yes, generators are tax free in Florida if they meet the state’s definition of a portable generator: an engine-driven machine producing 10,000 running watts or less. The exemption became permanent on August 1, 2025, replacing the temporary disaster preparedness sales tax holidays the legislature used to authorize each year. You no longer have to wait for a designated shopping window. If the generator fits the statutory definition, it’s tax-free every day of the year.
What Qualifies as a Tax-Free Generator
Florida Statutes Section 212.08(yyy) defines a “portable generator” as a portable engine-driven machine that converts chemical energy from fuel to electrical power in the amount of 10,000 running watts or less.1Online Sunshine. Florida Statutes 212.08 Three requirements. All three have to be met.
- Portable. The unit has to be movable. Generators you can carry, wheel, or load into a truck bed qualify.
- Engine-driven. The machine has to run on fuel, whether gasoline, diesel, or propane.
- 10,000 running watts or less. The cap is measured by running (continuous) wattage, not peak or surge wattage. A generator rated at 9,500 running watts with a 12,000-watt surge capacity still qualifies because its continuous output falls under the limit.
When you shop, the running-watts figure is the one that matters. Marketing materials often lead with the surge or peak number because it’s higher, but the statute keys off continuous output. Check the spec sheet or nameplate.
No Price Cap Under the Permanent Exemption
The old temporary holiday capped the exemption at generators priced $3,000 or less. The permanent law dropped that ceiling. A qualifying portable generator that costs $4,000 is still tax-free, so long as it meets the portability, engine, and wattage requirements.2Florida Department of Revenue. New Sales Tax Exemptions Beginning August 1, 2025
What Does Not Qualify
Standby generators are the biggest source of confusion. These are the permanently installed units that sit on a concrete pad outside the house, connect to your electrical panel through a transfer switch, and are wired in by a licensed electrician. They aren’t portable, so they fall outside the definition regardless of wattage. The tax still applies.
Generators producing more than 10,000 running watts also remain taxable. Larger units, typically the commercial-grade machines used on job sites, exceed the statutory cap even if they’re wheeled or trailer-mounted.
Battery-powered portable power stations are a gray area. The statute specifically requires an “engine-driven machine” that converts “chemical energy from the fuel powering the engine.” A rechargeable battery unit doesn’t burn fuel in an engine, so it likely falls outside the definition. Under the old holiday, portable power banks were exempted separately with a $60 price cap, and no equivalent line item for battery-only devices appears in the permanent law.2Florida Department of Revenue. New Sales Tax Exemptions Beginning August 1, 2025
How the Exemption Works at the Register
For in-store purchases, the exemption applies automatically. Retailers registered to collect Florida sales tax are required to stop charging tax on qualifying items. You shouldn’t need a certificate, a form, or a conversation with the cashier.
Online purchases work the same way. If you order from a retailer that collects Florida sales tax and ships to a Florida address, the generator should ring up tax-free. Because the exemption is permanent, order timing no longer matters.
If a retailer does charge tax on a qualifying generator, keep the receipt. You can ask the seller to refund the tax, and if that doesn’t work, file a claim with the Florida Department of Revenue.
State and County Tax Both Come Off
Florida’s 6% state sales tax is only part of what most shoppers pay. Counties add a discretionary sales surtax that typically ranges from 0.5% to 1.5%, though some counties charge more.3Florida Department of Revenue. Florida Sales and Use Tax The statute exempts qualifying portable generators from “the tax imposed by this chapter,” and both the state tax and the county surtax sit under Chapter 212.1Online Sunshine. Florida Statutes 212.08 A qualifying generator should be free of both. If a county surtax shows up on your receipt, flag it with the retailer.
Parts, Accessories, and Repairs Are Still Taxed
The exemption covers the generator itself, and only the generator. Replacement parts, accessories, and maintenance supplies bought separately are taxed at the standard rate. Oil filters, spark plugs, fuel stabilizer, and extension cords all carry sales tax. So do repair services, including both labor and materials. If you’re buying a generator for the first time, pick up the accessories in the same transaction where it helps and budget for tax on those items.
What You’ll Save
A mid-range portable generator producing about 7,500 running watts runs roughly $1,000 to $2,500 depending on brand and features. In a county with a 1% discretionary surtax, the combined tax rate would be 7%. On a $1,500 generator, that’s $105 you don’t pay. On a $2,500 unit, it’s $175. And unlike the old holiday, you don’t have to time the purchase to a two-week window or compete with a rush of other shoppers to get the price.