Texas officials are so keen to conserve water and energy that they have created tax-free holidays for both.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminded residents of last year’s hot spring and summer while touting the state’s water-saving products and Energy Star sales tax exemptions, which began Saturday and continue through Monday.
“Anyone who has experienced a Texas summer knows that triple-digit temperatures, outdated water systems and inefficient appliances put strain on our water supply and power grid,” Hegar said in a press release.
He said taking advantage of the sales tax holiday to make the upgrades “will relieve some of those pressures and lower your utility bills while also saving you state and local sales taxes.”
The Texas Comptroller estimates that shoppers could save $15 million in state and local taxes, which amount to 8.25 percent in most cities.
While some exclusions may seem arbitrary, what is and isn’t included in the sales tax exemption is mandated by the Texas Legislature.
Save electricity
The Energy Star sales tax exemption applies to refrigerators priced under $2,000 and air conditioners priced under $6,000. Other energy-efficient appliances that qualify for the exemption include fluorescent light bulbs, ceiling fans, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, and washing machines. However, many appliances, such as water heaters, clothes dryers, freezers, stoves, wine refrigerators, and kegrers, are not exempt.
Save water
The water-saving product sales tax exemption does not limit the quantity of eligible items that can be purchased.
Some of the products carrying the WaterSense label have become the laughing stock of politicians, including water-saving shower heads, bathroom taps, toilets and urinals.
Buy yourself a tree
Gardeners can take advantage of this tax break by paying for almost anything that retains groundwater (percolation drip irrigation hoses, mulch, soil, plants, trees, grasses) – professional landscapers are not eligible because these items can only be purchased for residential use.
