Louisiana sales tax holiday encourages residents to prepare for hurricane season
Louisiana residents can stock up on flashlights, batteries, generators, and other storm-related items free of the four percent state sales tax during the 2012 Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27. The 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1.
“This is the perfect opportunity to begin the preparations that can help to keep your loved ones and property safe, secure and comfortable during hurricane season,” Secretary of Revenue Cynthia Bridges said. “I encourage everyone to get ready now. Don’t wait until there’s a storm bearing down on us or, worse, after one has already struck.”
The sales tax holiday exempts the first $1500 of the purchase price of each of the following eligible items:
• Self-powered light sources, such as flashlights and candles
• Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios, and weather-band radios
• Tarpaulins or other flexible waterproof sheeting
• Ground anchor systems, straps or tie-down kits
• Gas or diesel fuel tanks
• Batteries, sizes AAA, AA, C, D, 6-volt, or 9-volt (Automobile batteries and boat batteries are ineligible)
• Cellular phone batteries and chargers
• Non-electric food storage coolers
• Portable generators
• Storm shutter devices (Materials and products manufactured, rated, and marketed specifically for the purposes of preventing window damage from storms)
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• “Blue Ice” (and similar re-usable cooling products)
The 2012 Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday exempts eligible purchases from the 4 percent state sales tax only. Local sales taxes apply unless specifically exempted by the local taxing jurisdiction.
Visit www.revenue.louisiana.gov/hurricaneprep for a full explanation of sales tax holiday provisions.