Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday will run from Aug. 1-31 this year, a change from the two-week holiday held previous years.

Praised by retailers, derided as a gimmick by critics, Florida on Friday will start a month-long sales-tax "holiday" for back-to-school shoppers, along with eliminating sales taxes on other types of items.

Florida's back to school sales tax holiday will start on Friday, but some experts think the policy is a misguided one. The sales tax holiday will end on Aug.