Severe weather season has arrived for Texas, and Comptroller Glenn Hegar is getting the word out about a sales tax holiday coming up this weekend. Many items will be available to purchase with no sales tax beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 23 through Midnight Monday, April 25.
“Whether it’s fires, freezing temperatures or tornadoes, severe weather conditions can strike at any time, so it is important that families, homes and businesses have the supplies they need to face these and other emergencies,” Hegar said. “This tax holiday can help Texans save money while stocking up for emergency situations.”
Hegar estimates that Texans will save more than $1.5 million in state and local sales taxes during the tax holiday, which was approved by the Texas Legislature in 2015.
There’s no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase. These include:
- household batteries, fuel containers and flashlights priced at less than $75;
- hurricane shutters and emergency ladders priced at less than $300; and
- portable generators priced at less than $3,000.
For purchases made online, delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are part of the sales price, Hegar says. If the emergency preparation item being purchased is taxable, the delivery charge is also taxable. For example, if you purchase a rescue ladder online for $299 with a $10 delivery charge, the total sales price is $309. Because the total sales price of the ladder is more than $300, tax is due on the $309 sales price.
Several over-the-counter self-care items, such as antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, spray and wipes, are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a “Drug Facts” panel in accordance with federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
Purchases that do not qualify include:
- batteries for automobiles, boats and other motorized vehicles;
- camping stoves and camping supplies;
- chainsaws;
- plywood;
- extension ladders and stepladders; and
- tents.
