Florida’s New Home-Hardening Tax Refund: What Solivita Homeowners Should Know
Florida homeowners considering storm-resistant upgrades have a new reason to keep careful records. A state sales-tax exemption for qualifying home-hardening products took effect July 1, 2026, but it works differently from a typical tax-free shopping period: buyers generally pay Florida sales tax first and then apply to the Florida Department of Revenue for a refund.
For eligible Solivita homeowners, the refund can cover Florida sales tax, including discretionary sales surtax, paid on qualifying impact-resistant doors, impact-resistant garage doors and impact-resistant windows. The total refund is capped at $500, and an owner may submit a claim for only one eligible residential property.
Who May Qualify
The state defines an eligible residential property as a site-built dwelling that has been granted a Florida homestead exemption and has a just value of $700,000 or less. The person applying must hold legal title to the property where the products were installed. Mobile homes, manufactured homes, trailers, and homes titled or registered under the statutes identified in the state guidance are not eligible for this refund.
Which Purchases Count
The purchase period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. Qualifying products are limited to impact-resistant exterior door systems, garage door systems, and windows that meet specified impact-resistance and wind-pressure standards. Frames and attachment hardware may also count when purchased as part of the same sale for a compliant installation. Decorative shutters, generators, roofing materials and other storm-preparation purchases are not automatically covered by this particular refund simply because they may help protect a home.
How to File the Refund Claim
The Florida Department of Revenue says the property owner must submit three core items. Claims may be filed electronically through the department’s refund portal or sent by mail using the address listed on the current form.
- Complete Form DR-26S, Application for Refund – Sales and Use Tax.
- Complete Form DR-26HH, Home Hardening Products Sales Tax Refund, including the owner affidavit and property information.
- Attach copies of receipts showing Florida sales tax paid on the qualifying retail purchases.
Refund claims must be submitted between July 1, 2026, and September 30, 2029. Waiting until the final deadline could make it harder to replace missing invoices or confirm product ratings, so homeowners may want to assemble the claim file soon after installation is complete.
Contractor Purchases Need Extra Attention
A contractor-installed project can still qualify, but the paperwork may be less obvious. State guidance explains that if a contractor bought the qualifying products at retail, the homeowner’s claim needs the receipt showing the Florida sales tax paid on that retail purchase. A lump-sum home-improvement contract may not separately charge sales tax to the homeowner, so ask before work begins what purchase records and product documentation the contractor can provide.
A Practical Checklist Before You Buy
Before signing a contract or ordering materials, confirm that the property and product meet the state’s definitions, verify that the product documentation identifies an accepted impact and wind-pressure standard, and decide who will retain the itemized tax receipts. It is also wise to check contractor licensing, permits, Solivita architectural or community requirements, and any insurance documentation that may be useful after installation.
The refund is a tax benefit, not a guarantee that a specific project will reduce an insurance premium or satisfy every building or community requirement. Review the current Florida Department of Revenue forms and guidance before filing, and discuss insurance questions with a licensed insurance professional. For homeowners already planning impact-resistant upgrades, however, the new refund offers a timely opportunity to recover part of the sales tax cost while strengthening a home’s storm readiness.
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