Home Improvement and Preparedness Tax Holidays in Each State
Photo: istockphoto.com
Investing in home improvement and emergency preparedness supplies is a priority for many Americans, but these items often come at a high cost. Luckily, many states offer tax holidays each year that allow shoppers to buy specific items tax-free.
Before shopping, make sure to check the state’s rules and restrictions for which items fit within the tax holiday’s parameters. It’s often best to verify the details on the state’s website to find out the most up-to-date information on whether an item in question qualifies for the tax exemption. For example, some states offer tax holidays for clothing under $100, which would help with winter outerwear, boots, or other gear you might need for your next DIY project, but make sure each item you want to purchase falls into the categories of clothing covered by the holiday.
The following are some of the relevant state tax holidays with links to each state’s tax holiday details.
Note: All dates mentioned in this article are for the calendar year 2023.
RELATED: Building the Essential Toolbox: 20 Tools You Can’t DIY Without
Alabama
Alabama has two sales tax holidays in 2023, each of which lasts for 3 days. From Feb. 24 to 26, the Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday includes items for hurricane preparedness as well as generators and other supplies like batteries, portable radios, flashlights, tarps, and more.
The state’s Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday, from July 21 to 23, includes school supplies, clothing that’s less than $100 per item, and computers.
RELATED: Prep for Disaster: 10 Things You’ll Need in a Home Emergency
Arkansas
Arkansas has a single tax holiday in 2023, lasting from August 5 to 6, and it’s the perfect time to buy things you might need for planning your next DIY project. Included in the tax holiday are protective gear, laptops, desktop computers, tablets, e-readers, and computer accessories.
RELATED: 2022 Tax Credits and Deductions Homeowners Should Take Advantage of ASAP
Photo: istockphoto.com
Connecticut
From Aug. 20 through Aug. 26, Connecticut will hold its Sales Tax Free Week, which eliminates taxes on a variety of clothing and accessories. Work clothes are included in the exemption, as are running shoes, cold weather clothing, athleticwear, and more. Each item must be purchased for less than $100 to qualify.
RELATED: The Best Construction Boots to Protect Your Feet While Working
Florida
Florida has a year-long tax exemption period which ends June 30 of 2023. Some energy-efficient Energy Star-rated appliances will be sold tax-free during this time if purchased for residential use. This applies to dryers selling for $1,500 or less, refrigerators selling for $3,000 or less, washing machines selling for $1,500 or less, and water heaters selling for $1,500 or less. In addition, Florida has a sales tax exemption period that lasts until June 30, 2024, for impact-resistant doors, garage doors, and windows.
Iowa
Iowa’s annual tax holiday will be from Aug. 4 to 5, 2023, which is timed to coincide with the back-to-school shopping many families do at the end of the summer. DIYers can take advantage of this sales tax holiday to purchase clothing and footwear items sold for under $100. Specialty clothing and footwear are not included, but you can purchase things like outerwear, garden or work gloves, and steel-toed boots.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Maryland
Anyone living in Maryland who wants to invest in energy-efficient appliances should mark Feb. 18 on their calendars. During this time, Energy Star “air conditioners, clothes washers, clothes dryers, furnaces, heat pumps, standard size refrigerators, compact fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, boilers, and programmable thermostats” will all be sold tax-free.
Every year, this exemption period called ‘Shop Maryland Energy’ begins on the Saturday preceding the third Monday in February and ends at 11:59 p.m. on the third Monday of February.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts offers a generous tax exemption period that encompasses all items sold for personal use valued at up to $2,500. There are a few exceptions, including motor vehicles, alcohol, motorboats, and meals.
The 2023 dates haven’t been set at the time of writing, but in 2022 the tax holiday took place between Aug. 13 and 14.
Mississippi
Mississippi will hold its tax holiday on July 28 and 29 for those early bird back-to-school shoppers. Clothing and footwear under $100 are eligible, and that means you can combine multiple items that are each priced under $100. While work boots and gloves are not eligible for the discount, you can get hiking boots, coveralls, or a broad-brim hat for working in the yard.
Missouri
Between April 19 and 25, Missouri hosts their Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday. The exemption includes Energy Star-certified new appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, air conditioners, fridges, heat pumps, furnaces, and more that are up to $1,500 per appliance.
On the first Friday in August through the following Sunday, the state also holds a back-to-school sales tax holiday, which is a great time to purchase clothing and computers.
RELATED: 9 Home Upgrades the Climate Bill Can Help You Pay For
Photo: istockphoto.com
New Jersey
From Aug. 26 to Sept. 4, school supplies, art supplies, and computers up to $3,000 will all be tax-free in New Jersey. This tax holiday, timed with back-to-school shopping, has limits on eligibility. Included are art supplies, like paints and glazes, perfect for the crafting DIYer, and sporting equipment, like knee guards and waders, for those challenging outdoor projects.
New Mexico
From Aug. 4 to 6, New Mexico residents will be able to buy clothing, computers, computer equipment, and school supplies tax-free, with certain monetary limits. It’s important to note that clothing used for sports and protective equipment don’t qualify for the tax exemption, so be sure to confirm whether any clothing purchased for DIY projects or home maintenance does, in fact, qualify.
Ohio
Ohio may not hold tax holidays pertaining to home improvement or emergency preparedness, but they do offer a tax exemption from Aug. 4 to 6 on clothing and school supplies. While many states have restrictions on the types of clothing eligible for this tax discount, Ohio allows shoppers to buy any item of clothing priced at $75 or less, so this is the time to stock up on work clothes and outerwear.
Oklahoma
People in Oklahoma will be exempt from paying state sales tax on clothing items under $100 each from Aug. 4 to 6. This is a great opportunity for shoppers to buy any clothing they may need for working around the home, including steel-toes boots, protective clothing, gardening clothing, and outerwear.
RELATED: The Best Gardening Gloves Tested
Photo: istockphoto.com
Texas
Texas will have three tax holidays in 2023, and two of them are perfect for those shopping for appliances and storm preparedness supplies, respectively.
- The Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday takes place from April 22 to 24 and includes items like portable generators, storm shutters, emergency ladders, smoke detectors, and more.
- The Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday runs from May 27 to the 29 and includes Energy Star-rated air conditioners, refrigerators, ceiling fans, light bulbs, clothing washers, dishwashers, and dehumidifiers.
- The Sales Tax Holiday includes school supplies, clothing, and footwear. It starts on Aug. 11 and ends at midnight on Aug. 13.
RELATED: 10 Essentials for Any Survival Kit
South Carolina
South Carolina offers a tax exemption from Aug. 4 to 6 on clothing, computers, computer equipment, and school supplies. Though it isn’t as widely publicized, this tax holiday also includes a section pertaining to bed and bath supplies. Products like bath mats, pillows, sheets, blankets, towels, and shower curtains are all included in the exemption.
West Virginia
In West Virginia, from Aug. 4 through 7, shoppers can buy clothing, sporting equipment, and computers tax-free with certain price limitations. While protective gear isn’t included in the exemption, shoppers can still buy a variety of clothing items like work boots, gardening gloves, and outdoor gear for working in the yard over winter.
RELATED: The Best Work Gloves Tested