Hurricane season is coming, and the possibility of tornadoes in the northern part of the state, and wildfires to the west. It’s time to stock up and get ready.
The state of Texas is offering a sales tax holiday on select emergency preparation supplies this weekend, beginning at midnight Saturday morning, April 28, through midnight Sunday night, April 29.
Kevin Lyons, spokesperson for Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s office, says there are three tiers of qualifying options, beginning with items under $75. He says there is no limit to the number of items you buy. “So first are batteries, fuel containers and flashlights valued at under $75. You can buy as many batteries as you want to buy, as long as the item itself is under $75,” he says.
The next category is hurricane shutters and emergency ladders priced under $300, and the third category is portable generators under $3,000. “Let’s say you buy a portable generator valued at $2,999 and you want it delivered, and then the total value is over $3,000. Then you won’t get a tax break,” he details.
If you make a purchase for a qualifying item but are charged sales tax, you can file for reimbursement at the website of the Texas Comptrollers office.
The items that qualify are:
- Less than $3000
- Portable generators
- Less than $300
- Emergency ladders
- Hurricane shutters
- Less than $75
- Axes
- Batteries, single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
- Can openers - nonelectric
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Coolers and ice chests for food storage – nonelectric
- Fire extinguishers
- First aid kits
- Fuel containers
- Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
- Hatchets
- Ice products - reusable and artificial
- Light sources - portable self-powered (including battery operated)
- Examples of items include: candles, flashlights and lanterns
- Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
- Radios - portable self-powered (including battery operated) - includes two-way and weather band radios
- Smoke detectors
- Tarps and other plastic sheeting