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Florida's Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday Launches Friday through Sunday

Clothing and shoes $75 or less and school supplies up to $15 per item will be tax exempt over the next three days. Any item that costs more than those amounts will be taxed as usual.

The period is part of Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday, and runs this year from Aug. 2-4.

"We believe it's going to be great for Florida's families to get their children education-ready," said Rick McAllister, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation.

This year, personal computers and related accessories selling for up to $750 or less will also be tax exempt.

McAllister said adding these certain electronics will be beneficial to consumers and retailers alike. "Computers are used more and more as a classroom tool, and replacing schoolbooks in many cases, so it's a great addition."

As long as you are a Florida resident, online purchases that may include sales tax are also included under the tax exemption limits.

"The person who owes the tax is the person who buys it. So if you're a Florida resident, it doesn't matter where you buy it from, if there was going to be tax charged, it won't be taxed during those three days," said McAllister.

Retail sales this year are expected to at least match last year's levels.

A survey conducted by the National Retail Foundation predicts families with school-aged children will spend about an average of $634.78 on shoes, clothing, supplies, and electronics in 2013, which is down about $54 from last year.

School supplies include pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, notebook paper, legal pads, binders, lunch boxes, construction paper, markers, folders, poster board, composition books, poster paper, scissors, cellophane tape, glue or paste, rulers, computer disks, protractors, compasses and calculators.