Sunshine Ace Hardware has created a nine-day “We Pay Your Tax” event designed to help Southwest Floridians prepare for the hurricane season.

The company, which has 14 hardware stores under its umbrella, will cover the sales tax on hurricane supplies from June 7-15 on items like generators, batteries, flashlights, gas cans and more.

“One of our core values is ‘Care for your Neighbor,’ and that means doing anything in our power to help Southwest Florida residents prepare for hurricane season,” said Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware. “When a hurricane approaches, lines are long and supplies can be limited, so that’s why we encourage customers to stock up early so your home and family are ready, especially with forecasters predicting a very active hurricane season.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts 13 to 19 named storms in 2025, including six to 10 hurricanes, of which three to five could be major hurricanes.

Since 2005, Florida has offered a Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday that incentivizes storm preparation by eliminating the state sales tax on critical hurricane supplies. However, the Florida Legislature has yet to approve a budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year and several bills to renew the sales tax holiday have not passed.

Sunshine Ace Hardware has adopted Florida’s 2024 tax-free list and the company will cover the sales tax on hurricane-prep items, including the following:

Items $10 or less:

• Wet dog or cat food

Items $15 or less:

• Manual can openers
• Food or water bowls for pets
• Cat litter pans
• Pet waste disposal bags

Items $20 or less:

• Reusable ice
• Leashes, collars and muzzles for pets

Items $40 or less:

• Portable self-powered light sources

Items $50 or less:

• Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios or weather-band radios
• Gas or diesel fuel tanks
• Batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt, 9-volt)

Items $60 or less:

• Nonelectric food storage coolers
• Portable power banks

Items $70 or less:

• Smoke detectors or smoke alarms
• Fire extinguishers
• Carbon monoxide detectors

Items $100 or less:

• Tarps and flexible waterproof sheeting
• Ground anchor systems

Items $3,000 or less:

• Portable generators

Sunshine Ace Hardware stores participating in the Hurricane Prep Tax-Free Sale include:

Collier County:

• Downtown Naples – 141 Tamiami Trail North; Naples, FL 34102
• East Naples – 4433 Tamiami Trail East; Naples, FL 34112
• Marco Island – 1720 San Marco Road; Marco Island, FL 34145
• Golden Gate – 11673 Collier Blvd.; Naples, FL 34116
• Founders Square – 8850 Founders Square Drive; Naples, FL 34120
• Ave Maria – 5630 Ave Maria Blvd., Unit 110-112; Ave Maria, FL 34142

Lee County:

• Bonita Springs – 9100 Bonita Beach Road; Bonita Springs, FL 34135
• San Carlos – 18911 Tamiami Trail South; Fort Myers, FL 33908

Charlotte County:

• Port Charlotte – 3035 Tamiami Trail; Port Charlotte, FL 33952
• Port Charlotte, Kingsway – 912a Kings Highway; Port Charlotte, FL 33980
• Babcock Ranch – 42080 Cypress Parkway, Suite 11; Babcock Ranch, FL 33982

Pinellas County:

• Largo – 1015 W. Bay Drive; Largo, FL 33770

Manatee County (Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware):

• Bradenton – 5409 Manatee Ave. West; Bradenton, FL 34209
• Lakewood Ranch – 2401 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.; Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211