CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — While Texas is under a disaster declaration for COVID-19, the state wants to help everyone stay safe and save money on sales tax with its annual Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday this weekend.
Shoppers will be able to buy certain emergency preparation supplies without tax during this 3 day sales tax holiday.
There is no limit to the number of qualifying items shoppers can buy.
“We do this once a year for the severe weather preparation, and we have a lot of great items and will give our customers tax free and additional savings. So some of our items are flashlights, batteries, which are always needed throughout the year. We also have coolers, camping supplies in case of an emergency,” saidAcademy Sports and More Store Director Patricia Delaney.
Academy Sports and More urges Texans to shop online to take advantage of their curbside assistance or practice strict social distancing measures for in-store purchases during the sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies.
“First off, we are offering great customer services to our customers by watching the occupancy in our building. We have allowed a certain amount of customers to shop in our building to give our customers a safe environment to shop in followed by a 6 foot distancing,” said Delaney.
The primary intent of the law that established this holiday is to help Texans prepare for events like hurricanes, flash floods, and wildfires.
The 2020 Emergency Preparation Sales Tax Holiday will run through Monday, April 27.
The following emergency preparation supplies qualify for tax exemption if purchased for a sales price:
- Portable generators
- Emergency ladders
- Hurricane shelters
- Axes
- Batteries, single or multipack
- Can openers
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Coolers and ice chests for food storage
- Fire extinguishers
- First aid kits
- Fuel containers
- Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
- Hatchets
- Ice products
- Light sources
- Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone charges
- Radios
- Smoke detectors
- Tarps and other plastic sheeting
These supplies Do Not qualify for tax exemption:
- Medical masks and face masks
- Cleaning supplies, such as disinfectants and bleach wipes
- Gloves, including leather, fabric, latex and types used in health care
- Toilet paper
- Batteries for automobiles, boats and other motorized vehicles
- Camping stoves
- Camping supplies
- Chainsaws
- Plywood
- Extension ladders
- Stepladders
- Tents
- Repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies
- Services performed on, or relate to, emergency preparation supplies
