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Florida homeowners can get back up to $500 of sales tax paid on impact windows, doors and garage doors bought from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The home needs a homestead exemption and a just value of $700,000 or less, and you claim the refund after paying.
This guide covers who qualifies, which products count, the forms and deadlines, the receipts to keep, and how the refund fits with insurance discounts. It is general information, not tax advice.
What the Florida Home Hardening Sales Tax Refund Is
The home hardening sales tax refund is a temporary Florida program created by the 2026 tax package, HB 7031-E (chapter 2026-239, Laws of Florida). It returns sales tax you already paid on qualifying impact products. It does not remove the tax at the register.
The Florida Department of Revenue runs the refund. Its Tax Information Publication 26A01-09 says the exemption cannot be claimed at the point of sale, so you pay the full tax first and apply afterward.
The refund covers the Florida sales tax and any county discretionary sales surtax you paid on the products, up to the cap. This table sums up the rules from the Department of Revenue documents.
| Rule | What the Department of Revenue documents say |
|---|---|
| Products | Impact-resistant windows, doors and garage doors |
| Home | Site-built home with a homestead exemption and a just value of $700,000 or less |
| Purchase dates | Bought at retail from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 |
| Claim deadline | Submitted between July 1, 2026 and September 30, 2029 |
| Refund limit | $500 in total, for one property per owner |
| How you get it | Refund after purchase, not at the register |
| Forms | DR-26S and DR-26HH, with receipts showing Florida sales tax paid |
Who Qualifies for the Impact Window Sales Tax Refund
You qualify if you own the home where the products are installed and that home is eligible residential property. The Department of Revenue defines it as residential property with a site-built dwelling that has a homestead exemption under s. 196.031, F.S., and a just value of $700,000 or less.
- A homestead exemption has been granted on the home.
- The just value is $700,000 or less on the county property appraiser’s record.
- The home is site-built, not a mobile home, manufactured home or trailer.
- The impact products are installed on that same property.
Check both conditions on your county property appraiser’s website before you buy. The parcel record shows whether a homestead exemption is on file and lists the just value, which is not the same figure as your insured value.
Condo Unit Owners
Condo owners may qualify too. Florida Realtors reported that the Department of Revenue confirmed an individually owned, homesteaded unit with a just value of $700,000 or less can claim, even when an association or contractor handles the purchase.
The law itself does not mention condos, and some websites say condos are excluded. If you own a condo, confirm with the Department of Revenue (Taxpayer Services, (850) 488-6800) before you count on the money.
Rentals, Second Homes and Mobile Homes
A rental or a second home without a homestead exemption does not qualify, because the homestead exemption is a condition of the refund. Mobile homes, manufactured homes and trailers titled or registered under chapter 319 or 320, F.S., are excluded.
Each owner can submit a refund claim for one eligible property only. If you own several homes, the claim belongs to the homesteaded one.
Which Impact Windows, Doors and Garage Doors Qualify
Qualifying home hardening products are impact-resistant windows, impact-resistant doors and impact-resistant garage doors. Each must be rated for impact and wind pressure under the test standards the law lists. For windows, those are ASTM E1886 and E1996, AAMA 506, or Florida’s TAS 201, 202 and 203.
The documents do not list approval numbers, but a product approval is how you show a window or door was tested. Learn how to check if windows are hurricane rated, and keep the Florida Product Approval number for each opening with your receipts.
The refund lines up with the openings most South Florida homes replace. You can compare the ES Windows impact windows we install, our impact entry, French and sliding doors, and impact-rated garage doors for South Florida homes.
The law defines home hardening products as these three items only. Storm shutters, window film and roof upgrades are not on the list, so do not count on a refund for them.
For how impact glass, frames and ratings work before you choose, read our guide to impact windows in South Florida or the full guide to impact doors.
Key Dates: Purchase Window and Claim Deadline
Products must be purchased at retail from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 and installed on the eligible property. Refund claims must be submitted between July 1, 2026 and September 30, 2029, according to the Department of Revenue.
You may see June 30, 2028 on some pages, including the My Safe Florida Home notice linked below. The final law and the Department of Revenue publication and form all say June 30, 2029, so follow those.
A USA Home Improvement project takes about 3 months start to finish, though it can vary, with manufacturing taking about 6 to 8 weeks depending on project scope. If you plan a project close to the end of the program, leave room for the June 30, 2029 purchase date.
How to Claim the Refund With Forms DR-26S and DR-26HH
The property owner files the refund claim with the Department of Revenue. The My Safe Florida Home program states that it does not administer this refund, so a grant application is not a refund claim.
- Confirm the homestead exemption and a just value of $700,000 or less on your county property appraiser’s site.
- Collect receipts showing Florida sales tax paid on the products: yours, or your contractor’s if the contractor bought them.
- Fill in Form DR-26HH, Home Hardening Products Sales Tax Refund. It asks for the property address and parcel number, and you sign an affidavit stating the products were installed, their cost and the sales tax paid.
- Complete Form DR-26S, Application for Refund, through the Department of Revenue online refund application, and upload DR-26HH and your receipts. The forms can also be mailed.
- Enter a refund amount of no more than $500 and submit by September 30, 2029.
- Keep copies of everything you send.
The forms ask for the owner’s Social Security number, so file them yourself through the official Department of Revenue site. You sign the affidavit under penalty of perjury, so enter only the tax your receipts show.
Under the law, the Department has 30 business days after receiving your application to decide if it meets the rules, and 30 business days after approval to issue the refund. Questions about a claim go to the Refunds team at (850) 617-8585.
Documents to Keep for the Refund and Your Insurer
Keep one folder for the project from the day you sign. The same papers support the refund claim, your wind mitigation inspection and a future sale of the home.
- Signed contract and final paid invoice
- Receipts showing Florida sales tax paid on the windows, doors or garage door
- Proof of payment, such as card, check or financing statements
- Florida Product Approval number for each window and door
- Permit and final inspection record
- Property appraiser record showing the homestead exemption and just value
- Copies of DR-26S, DR-26HH and any Department of Revenue letters
Every USA Home Improvement project is permitted, and customers can receive the Florida Product Approval number for each window and door on request. See what happens from quote to final inspection to know which papers each step produces.
If Your Contractor Bought the Products
Many window and door contracts include the products and the installation in one price. In that case the contractor may be the one who bought the products and paid the sales tax, and your invoice may not show a tax line.
The Department of Revenue says that when a contractor made the retail purchase of the products installed on your property, the receipt showing Florida sales tax paid on that purchase must be included with your refund application. Ask each contractor before you sign whether it can give you that receipt.
How the Refund Combines With Insurance Discounts and My Safe Florida Home
The sales tax refund and insurance discounts are separate programs with separate paperwork. The refund is a one-time payment of up to $500 from the state. An insurance discount is a credit on your premium that your insurer sets after it reviews your home’s features.
Under section 627.0629, Florida Statutes, insurers’ rate filings must include discounts for features that reduce windstorm loss. Insurers check those features with the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802), filled out by a qualified inspector.
Discounts vary by insurer and by home, so ask your insurer once the inspection form is done. Our post on home upgrades that can lower your insurance rates walks through the form item by item.
My Safe Florida Home grants are a third, separate program. Its support page says receiving both a grant and the sales tax refund is not a conflict. If you want a grant, the program’s FAQ says not to begin construction before you receive the official grant approval notice.
The refund arrives after you pay, so it does not lower what you owe at signing. If the upfront cost is the hurdle, look at financing options for qualified homeowners, offered through independent third-party providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Florida sales tax refund $500 per window?
No. The $500 limit is the total refund for one eligible property, not a limit per window or door. Your refund is the Florida sales tax and surtax actually paid on the qualifying products, up to $500, and each owner can claim for one property only.
Can I claim for impact windows bought before July 1, 2026?
No. The refund covers products purchased at retail from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. If your contractor bought the products, the retail purchase is the contractor’s, so ask the Department of Revenue how the dates apply before filing if your project started before July 1, 2026.
Is there a federal tax credit for impact windows in 2026?
Not under the federal energy credit. The IRS says the energy efficient home improvement credit (section 25C) is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the 2025 federal tax law. The Florida refund is a state program and stands on its own.
Does the homeowner or the contractor file the refund claim?
The property owner files. The owner signs the DR-26HH affidavit and the claim is made in the owner’s name. What you need from a contractor is the paid invoice and, if the contractor bought the products, its receipt showing sales tax paid.
What if my home’s just value is close to $700,000?
The limit uses the just value on your county property appraiser’s record, not your purchase price or insured value. If your value sits near $700,000, ask the Department of Revenue which year’s just value applies to your claim before you rely on the refund.
Planning Your Impact Window Project Around the Refund
Check your homestead exemption and just value first, then ask every contractor you compare how it documents the sales tax on the products. Buy before June 30, 2029, and file before September 30, 2029.
If you are pricing ES Windows impact windows or doors in South Florida, we can quote each opening on a free, no-obligation estimate. Our installation team holds direct certification from the manufacturer.
USA Home Improvement is licensed (CGC1526707) and insured and has served Florida homeowners for more than 15 years. Call (877) 554-6373 or Get a free estimate.