- Air conditioners priced at $6,000 or less
- Refrigerators priced at $2,000 or less
- Ceiling fans
- Incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs
- Clothes washers
- Dishwashers
- Dehumidifiers
- Existing programmable thermostats with ENERGY STAR labels. With any of these items, you save the sales tax instantly. But stores are also offering additional savings. Take for example Best Buy; the store has every major appliance on sale 15 to 20 percent off, plus free delivery. "We will haul away your old unit at no additional charge," said Brenda Prenrice with Best Buy. Free delivery and haul-away at best buy is an additional savings of $90 on top of the tax savings. Over at Sears at Memorial City Mall, the store has made shopping tax free easy by posting signs of qualifying appliances. Appliance Manager Ann Duff says all Kenmore appliances are an additional 30 percent off. Other brands are 15 percent off, and it's six months no interest on your sears credit card. "It starts this Saturday and we will be opening at 8am (Friday) morning and hours will be extended the whole weekend," Dunn said. "This is the weekend to buy an appliance if you need to replace yours number one because it's all energy appliances that are all on sale at the lowest price of the year, plus the extra 8 and a quarter you are getting." But at Sears delivery is $70 and to haul away an old appliance is an additional $10. At Home Depot, all appliances are 10 percent off, it's free delivery and haul-away and there is no interest if paid in full within 12 months. "I think it's a great idea to do a tax break for folks and get them in to replace the older stuff that is falling apart," shopper Eileen Hairel said. Keep in mind, stores will price match, but you must do your homework before you head out. If you do have to pay a delivery charge that's considered tax free, and most "install charges" are also tax free. For more information about the tax holiday, go to: http://www.texaspowerfulsmart.org/incentives/taxfree.php
ENERGY STAR appliances tax-free this weekend
HOUSTON
That's because every store has different incentives, so the price does vary from store to store. We went price comparing to see just how much.
Now that Justin Guyer and his partner are closing on a new home, he is looking for a new washing machine.
"Especially with the new energy saving devices that are out, we want to really take advantage of all the sales that are out," he said.
The purchase was going to be made after some renovations, but after Guyer heard about the sales tax holiday, he will be making a purchase this weekend.
"A couple of hundred saved on sales tax could be a kitchen counter or something like that down the line," he said.
So what are the requirements?
Between May 28 and May 30, shoppers can get a break from sales tax when they purchase household equipment bearing an ENERGY STAR label and follow the criterion listed below:
