Yes. In Florida, portable generators producing 10,000 running watts or less are tax free every day of the year. The exemption is written into the state tax code and took effect August 1, 2025, replacing the old temporary hurricane-season sales tax holiday. You no longer need to time your purchase to a specific shopping window. If the generator meets the statutory definition, no state sales tax applies, and no county discretionary surtax should apply either.
What Qualifies as a Tax-Free Generator
Florida Statutes Section 212.08(yyy) defines a qualifying “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 All three pieces of that definition have to be satisfied.
Portable means movable. Units you can carry, roll on wheels, or load into a truck bed meet the test. Engine-driven means the machine runs on fuel, whether that’s gasoline, diesel, or propane. And the 10,000-watt 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 still qualifies, because its continuous output stays under the limit.
There is no price ceiling. The old temporary holiday capped the exemption at generators priced $3,000 or less; the permanent law dropped that cap. A qualifying portable generator costing $4,000 is still tax free, as long as it meets the portability, fuel, and wattage requirements.2Florida Department of Revenue. New Sales Tax Exemptions Beginning August 1, 2025
Generators That Are Still Taxable
Standby generators are the most common unit people assume qualifies but doesn’t. These are the permanently installed home units wired into your electrical panel through a transfer switch, usually bolted to a concrete pad outside the house. Because they aren’t portable, they fall outside the statutory definition no matter how much electricity they put out.
Generators producing more than 10,000 running watts also remain taxable. These larger machines are typically commercial-grade units built for construction sites or to power whole businesses. Before you buy a high-output model, check the spec sheet for the running watts figure specifically, since advertising often leads with the higher surge number.
Battery-based portable power stations are a gray area. The statute requires an “engine-driven machine” that converts “chemical energy from the fuel powering the engine.” A rechargeable battery station doesn’t burn fuel in an engine, which puts it outside that definition. The old holiday had a separate category for portable power banks with its own $60 price cap, but no equivalent line item appears in the permanent exemption for battery-only devices.2Florida Department of Revenue. New Sales Tax Exemptions Beginning August 1, 2025
How the Exemption Applies at Checkout
You don’t need to do anything special to claim the exemption. Retailers registered for Florida sales tax are required to stop collecting tax on items that meet the permanent exemption criteria, so a qualifying generator should ring up tax free automatically. There’s no certificate to present and no form to fill out.
Online purchases work the same way. If you order from a retailer that collects Florida sales tax and ships to a Florida address, a qualifying portable generator should be sold tax free. Because this is a permanent exemption, order timing doesn’t matter the way it did under the old holiday windows.
If a retailer does charge sales tax on a qualifying unit, keep your receipt. You can ask the retailer for a refund of the tax, and if that doesn’t work, you can file a claim with the Florida Department of Revenue.
County Surtax
Florida’s 6% state sales tax is only part of what shows up at the register. Most counties add a discretionary sales surtax, typically between 0.5% and 1.5%, though a few charge more.3Florida Department of Revenue. Florida Sales and Use Tax The statute exempts qualifying generators from “the tax imposed by this chapter,” and both the state sales tax and the county surtax are authorized under Chapter 212.1Online Sunshine. Florida Statutes 212.08 A qualifying portable generator should come out fully exempt from both. If you see a surtax line still appearing on your receipt, raise it with the retailer.
Parts, Accessories, and Repairs Are Not Covered
The exemption covers the generator itself and nothing more. Replacement parts, accessories, and maintenance supplies bought separately are still taxable. That includes oil filters, spark plugs, fuel stabilizer, extension cords, and transfer switches. Repair services carry the standard tax on both labor and materials. If you’re buying a generator for the first time, factor the tax on accessories into your budget separately.
What You Actually Save
A mid-range portable generator producing around 7,500 running watts typically runs $1,000 to $2,500 depending on brand and features. In a county with a 1% discretionary surtax, the combined rate would be 7%. On a $1,500 generator, that’s $105 you keep. On a $2,500 unit, the savings reach $175. And because the exemption is permanent, you can shop whenever the price is right rather than racing other buyers through a two-week window.