RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia is holding its fourth annual tax holiday on energy-efficient products.
Gov. Bob McDonnell said Monday the tax holiday will begin on Oct. 8 and run through Oct. 11.
During that time, residential consumers can save money by buying sales-tax exempt items like heat pumps, dishwashers, washing machines, insulation, toilets and showerheads. Other products include air conditioners, refrigerators, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, programmable thermostats and faucets.
New and used items must be priced at $2,500 or less and certified as being energy efficient with the Energy Star and WaterSense designations.
Online purchases also will be exempt from the 5 percent sales tax if the orders are placed during the tax holiday and the sellers have the items available for immediate shipment.
The governor’s office says some retailers also may choose to pay the tax on any nonexempt merchandise.
October 8-11. That is a mighty small window of opportunity. I think that having a tax moratorium on energy savers is an excellent idea. I would like to see the time frame last at least a week. There is also the matter of the merchant having the item in stock for immediate shipment. I can see room for bait and switch in this model. Also, are there incentives for merchants to pay the sales tax for the customer?
But over-all, good for Virginia for holding its 4th annual tax holiday. Perhaps next year that small window of opportunity will open up a bit more. Perhaps Virginia might also consider a spring and fall moratorium.
I saw this yesterday and I’m glad I didn’t make my purchase as planned this past weekend. My washer has died, it’s 35 years old. I will be holding off on my purchase until the tax free weekend. I like the fact that it’s on a Holiday weekend when stores will be having sales.
Thank you Governor for this nice tax break.
I wish Virginia would follow South Carolina’s lead and have a tax-free holiday for gun sales. That’ll really stimulate the economy!!
A new dishwasher would be nice but I think I still have a year or so left in my current Maytag.. Gives me something to think about though..
I need a new dishwasher and a new dryer. grrrrrr
Actually the plan started 4 years ago under Tim Kaine. I am glad the Republicans decided to continue the tax savings plan. Had to get the Tim plug in there.
I wish there was more advertisement and fanfare for these things. Long weekend is good.
@marinm
Does SC really have a tax-free holiday on guns? Do they do this before the hunting season or what. Nothing against guns, but I don’t want to follow SC’s lead on anything. They have high unemployment and drop out rates, just to name a couple of their downsides.
Don’t forget SC is the home of Sanford, extreme sexual harassment of a female candidate for governor and …taaa daaaaa Candidate Green.
I smell a rat there. A huge rat.
I don’t understand. If tax holidays are such a good thing, why don’t they just REMOVE THE TAXES, in the first place? Then they would really sell. But, according to the way the federal government seems to do things, higher taxes don’t have a detrimental effect at all….I’m confused.
To Cargo’s point: http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/25676.html
Lafayette, yes SC does offer a tax free holiday on the purchase of firearms. It’s interesting (that Sanford was brought up) as he veto’d the bill and his veto was overridden. From the link I posted.
In South Carolina, State Representative Michael Pitts (R), who sponsored the House bill, stated that the holiday “was politically designed to bring recognition to the importance of the Second Amendment.”[3] The taxpayer savings were estimated to be minimal: just $15,000. The bill was put into law over the veto of Governor Mark Sanford (R), who wrote, “While we support the intent underlying sales tax holidays, we are vetoing this bill because we don’t believe that sales tax holidays are an effective method of promoting energy efficiency or the Second Amendment.” The South Carolina Policy Council also criticized the holiday: “This is a symptom of a problem we have; there will always be pet projects that individuals support. If we allow lawmakers to tinker with the tax code for everything they support at the expense of those they do not, we’ll end up with what we have now, which is an absurdly complicated tax code.
A tax holiday to me means that the government knows its screwing us everyday and for a brief window in time is screwing us less to try to encourage a certain behavior. You could argue it’s people control. 😉
O.K., just a cotton-picking minute here. Time out. I’ve thrown out the red flag and am asking for the refs to review the last play and explain their interpretation of the rules. According to the rule book I was given, any mention of Monica Lewinsky is to receive the reply that this business was just between Clinton and his wife. But whenever someone wants to roast the wonderful state of South Carolina, out they trot Governor Sanford as a prime example of perfidy. Now, is it not fair to say of Sanford as well that the whole thing is between him and his wife? How does Clinton get a pass? And, if you hang Sanford (elected governor) around South Carolina’s neck like an albatross, should one not hang Clinton (elected President) around the whole country’s neck like an albatross for the same reason? Both of these married guys unzipped trou for women to whom they were not wed. Sanford used company funds and company time for his private business. ( Or, should that be the “business of his privates”?) Clinton was on the company clock when he indulged in his own sexual escapades. In fact, I recall that he was on the phone talking to a congressman about Kosovo duirng one of his “special” pizza deliveries. Moreover, both these guys tried to cover everything up and then both refused to resign after they were found out.
Ref, it looks to me like we have got a conflict of rule books here. Personally, I think you ought to declare both of them to be unfaithful schmucks. Off-setting fouls. Run that play again.
Actually, I defended Sanford, much to everyone’s disgust. However, he disappeared for days, not even in the country, and didn’t tell his VG (vice governor) where he was or that he wasn’t even there. Then he got up and made some sort of speech that was simply pathetic…and refused to stop talking. He personally aired his dirty laundry in front of everyone.
How can you even compare that to Bill Clinton?
Back Wolverine. I had to take a break Sanford’s dalliances are between him and his wife also. However, he chose to share his love life with the entire nation. He was derelict in his duties.
I actually felt sorry for him. He was like a love sick puppy. He certainly isn’t someone SC is proud of.
Actually, more important to me, is the fact that Nikki Haley was treated like dirt. Several men spread horrible rumors about her, all to ruin her chances of being elected. That to me is the greatest crime of all. For the record, I would probably never vote for Nikki Halley. She is far too conservative for me. What those men did was the lowest of the low.