Impact Windows and Doors Guide for 2026
Florida homeowners may now be able to recover up to $500 in Florida sales tax paid on qualifying impact-resistant windows, impact-resistant exterior doors and impact-resistant garage doors. The program applies to eligible products purchased at retail from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, and installed on an eligible Florida residence.
The important detail is easy to miss: this is a refund program, not a discount taken at checkout. Sales tax is paid first, and the eligible property owner must then submit a refund claim with the required forms and receipts to the Florida Department of Revenue.
Quick Answer
A qualifying Florida homeowner can request a refund of previously paid Florida sales tax, including discretionary sales surtax, on eligible home-hardening products. The total refund cannot exceed $500, and an owner may claim the refund for only one eligible residential property. The home must be a site-built dwelling with a Florida homestead exemption and a just value of $700,000 or less.
What Is the Florida Home Hardening Sales Tax Refund
Florida created the program to provide a sales-tax exemption for certain products that strengthen homes against wind and windborne debris. Instead of removing tax at the point of sale, the law provides the benefit through a refund of tax that has already been paid.
That distinction matters. A retailer, manufacturer or contractor may still pay or collect Florida sales tax during the transaction, depending on how the purchase and installation contract is structured. The qualifying homeowner later applies to the state for reimbursement of the eligible tax, up to the $500 limit.
Key Program Dates
| Program detail | Date or limit |
| Eligible retail purchase period | July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029 |
| Refund-claim submission period | July 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029 |
| Maximum total refund | $500 per eligible owner claim |
| Property limit | One eligible residential property per owner claim |
A purchase made before July 1, 2026, does not qualify under this program. Do not wait until the final deadline to organize the paperwork; missing receipts can turn a useful refund into a scavenger hunt nobody wanted.
Who Qualifies for the Refund
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, the claimant must be the owner who holds legal title to the eligible residential property. The property must:
Contain a site-built dwelling
Have been granted a Florida homestead exemption under section 196.031, Florida Statutes
Have a just value of $700,000 or less
Be the property where the qualifying products were installed
The just value is the value used by the county property appraiser before exemptions are deducted. Homeowners who are uncertain about their property’s classification or value should review their property-appraiser record or ask the Florida Department of Revenue for guidance.
Which Properties Do Not Qualify
The published rules exclude mobile homes, manufactured homes, trailers and homes or trailers titled or registered under Chapters 319 or 320 of the Florida Statutes. A property without the required homestead exemption or with a just value above $700,000 also falls outside the stated definition of eligible residential property.
The official rules define eligibility by ownership, dwelling type, homestead status and just value. Do not assume that every Florida residence or every window-and-door project qualifies.
Which Products Qualify
The exemption covers three categories of home-hardening products:
Impact-resistant windows
Impact-resistant exterior doors
Impact-resistant garage doors
A qualifying window must use laminated glass or a polycarbonate glazing system designed and rated to resist wind and windborne debris. Qualifying doors and windows must meet the applicable impact-resistance and wind-pressure standards listed by the Department of Revenue, such as ASTM E1886 and E1996, AAMA 506, or Florida Building Code Testing Application Standards TAS 201, TAS 202 and TAS 203. Garage doors may also qualify under ANSI/DASMA 115.
The definition can include the window or door frame and attachment hardware when they are purchased in the same sale for installation in accordance with prescribed engineering requirements. Ordinary replacement windows or attractive new doors are not automatically eligible; the products must satisfy the program’s impact-resistance requirements.
How Much Can a Homeowner Receive
The refund equals eligible Florida sales tax and discretionary sales surtax that was actually paid, subject to a maximum refund of $500. The program does not promise every approved applicant a flat $500 payment. If the documented qualifying tax was less than $500, the refund request should reflect the lower amount.
How Contractor Installed Projects Are Treated
Many homeowners hire one company to furnish and install their windows or doors under a lump-sum contract. The Department of Revenue explains that this type of agreement can be treated as a real-property improvement rather than a retail sale of windows to the homeowner. In its example, the contractor does not charge sales tax on the entire lump-sum contract. Instead, the manufacturer charges the contractor sales tax when the contractor buys the windows.
The homeowner may still apply for the refund, but the application must include a copy of the receipt issued to the contractor showing the Florida sales tax paid on the qualifying products. Homeowners planning a project during the program period should discuss this documentation with their contractor before installation and keep copies with their project records.
How to Apply for the Refund
The property owner must submit the following to the Florida Department of Revenue:
Form DR-26S, Application for Refund Sales and Use Tax
Form DR-26HH, Home Hardening Products Sales Tax Refund
Copies of receipts showing payment of Florida sales tax on the retail purchase of qualifying products
The property and ownership information requested by the forms
Homeowners may submit Form DR-26S through the Department’s online refund system and upload Form DR-26HH with the required documentation. Claims may also be mailed to Refunds, Florida Department of Revenue, PO Box 6490, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6490. Check the current forms and submission instructions before filing.
A Simple Documentation Checklist
Confirm that the retail purchase date falls within the eligible period
Confirm that the product is rated as an eligible impact-resistant window or door
Keep the purchase contract, invoices and product information
Obtain the receipt that shows the Florida sales tax paid on the qualifying products
If the contractor purchased the products, request the manufacturer’s or retailer’s tax-paid receipt needed for the claim
Verify the home’s homestead status and just value
Complete both required state forms and retain copies of the full submission
Can This Refund Be Combined With Insurance Savings
The sales-tax refund and homeowners-insurance wind-mitigation credits are separate matters. Florida insurers provide information about potential premium discounts for documented hurricane-loss-mitigation features, but the size of any credit depends on the home, the inspection findings and the insurance policy.
A qualifying wind-mitigation inspection uses Florida’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form. As of April 1, 2026, inspections must use form OIR-B1-1802, revision 04/26. Installing impact products does not guarantee a specific insurance reduction. Ask your insurance carrier what documentation it requires and use an authorized mitigation inspector.
Why Product Selection and Installation Still Matter
A tax refund can reduce part of the cost, but it should not be the only reason to choose a window or door. Products must be appropriate for the home’s location, opening size, design pressures and applicable building requirements. Proper measurements, anchoring, flashing, sealing and installation affect long-term performance.
Folkers Window Company has served Gulf Coast homeowners for more than 50 years. Its in-house installation teams help Florida homeowners compare replacement windows, impact-resistant windows, entry doors, French doors and sliding glass doors designed for coastal conditions. Folkers is licensed in Florida under CBC1260136 and offers free, no-obligation consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Florida home hardening benefit a discount at checkout?
No. Under the 2026 program, the exemption is available only as a refund of Florida sales tax and discretionary surtax that has already been paid.
Does every applicant receive 500 dollars?
No. The refund is based on qualifying tax actually paid and documented, with a maximum total refund of $500.
Do standard replacement windows qualify?
Not automatically. The program applies to impact-resistant products that meet its stated wind and windborne-debris testing requirements.
Can a homeowner claim the refund when a contractor bought the windows?
Yes, according to the Department of Revenue, but the application must include the receipt showing Florida sales tax paid on the contractor’s retail purchase of the qualifying products.
Do mobile or manufactured homes qualify?
No. The published rules exclude mobile homes, manufactured homes, trailers and homes or trailers titled or registered under the cited Florida statutes.
Can the refund be claimed for a second home or rental property?
The eligible property must have a Florida homestead exemption, so a typical second home or rental property without that exemption would not meet the published definition.
What is the deadline to apply?
Claims must be submitted no later than September 30, 2029. The qualifying retail purchase must occur by June 30, 2029.
Where can homeowners ask official questions?
Contact Florida Department of Revenue Taxpayer Services at 850-488-6800 for tax-program questions. For refund filing questions or claim status, contact the Refunds team at 850-617-8585.
Talk With Folkers About Impact Windows and Doors
If you are considering impact-resistant windows or doors for a home in Northwest Florida, Folkers can help you review product choices, project requirements and professional installation. Ask about the product documentation and purchase records that may be relevant to a state refund application, but rely on the Florida Department of Revenue for the final eligibility and filing decision.
Call 888-365-5377 or request a free estimate at Folkers.com.
This article provides general information based on Florida guidance available in September 2026. It is not tax, legal or insurance advice. Program rules, forms and interpretations may change. Confirm current requirements with the Florida Department of Revenue before filing.