Emergency supplies tax-free April 26-28
Organizers plan to clean 6.25-square miles in community
As severe weather season approaches, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminds Texans they can purchase certain items tax free during the state’s sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies, which begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, April 26, and ends at midnight Monday, April 28.
“While we can’t know in advance when the next fire, flood, tornado or hurricane may occur, we can make sure our families, homes and businesses have the supplies they need to face these and other emergencies,” Hegar said. “Don’t wait for disaster to strike. I’m encouraging Texans to take advantage of this tax holiday to save money while stocking up for emergency situations.”
The comptroller’s office estimates shoppers will save about $2.3 million in state and local sales taxes during the tax holiday, which was approved by the Texas Legislature in 2015.
There’s no limit on the number of qualifying items one can purchase. These include the following:
– Household batteries, fuel containers and flashlights priced less than $75.
– Hurricane shutters and emergency ladders priced less than $300.
– Portable generators priced less than $3,000.
For purchases made online, note that delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges are part of the sales price. If the emergency preparation supply being purchased is taxable, the delivery charge is also taxable. Consider these charges when determining whether an item can be purchased tax free during the holiday.
For example, if you purchase an emergency ladder online for $299 with a $10 delivery charge, the total sales price is $309. Because the total sales price of the emergency ladder is more than $300, tax is due on the $309 sales price.
Purchases that do not qualify include the following:
– Batteries for automobiles, boats and other motorized vehicles.
– Camping stoves and camping supplies.
– Chainsaws.
– Plywood.
– Extension ladders and stepladders.
– Tents.
A complete list of emergency preparation supplies that may be purchased tax free can be found on the comptroller’s website at comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-1017.php.
HCAD promotes homestead exemptions
Multiple exemption options available for county homeowners
The Harris Central Appraisal District is encouraging homeowners to make sure they have the homestead exemptions they are entitled to.
“One of the easiest ways a homeowner can lower their property tax bill is to file a homestead exemption and apply for any other exemption they might be eligible for,” said Roland Altinger, chief appraiser. “The state tax code mandates certain exemptions and many jurisdictions offer optional or additional percentage exemptions.”
A homestead is generally the house and land used as the owner’s principal residence on Jan. 1 of the tax year. Recent legislation allows a homeowner to apply for a residence homestead exemption the year they own and occupy the house as their principal residence. If the owner acquires the property after Jan. 1, they are eligible to receive the exemption for the applicable portion of that tax year immediately on qualification if the previous owner did not receive the same exemption for the tax year. However, the homeowner must apply for the exemption for the applicable portion of that tax year before the first anniversary of the date the homeowner acquires the property.
“Homestead exemptions can reduce the appraised value of your home, and as a result, could lower your property taxes,” Altinger said.
Available homestead exemptions include:
School taxes: All homeowners may receive a $100,000 homestead exemption for school taxes.
Age and disability exemptions: Individuals 65 years of age or older or disabled as defined by law may qualify for a $10,000 homestead exemption for school taxes, in addition to the $100,000 exemption available to all homeowners. Also, any taxing unit may offer a local optional exemption of at least $3,000 for taxpayers age 65 or older and/or disabled. Older or disabled homeowners do not need to own their homes on Jan. 1 to qualify for the $10,000 homestead exemption. They qualify as soon as they turn age 65 or become disabled. Local Option Exemption: Taxing units may offer an exemption based on a percentage of a home’s appraised value. Any taxing unit can exempt up to 20 percent of the value of each qualified homestead. No matter what percentage of value the taxing unit adopts, the dollar value of the exemption must be at least $5,000.
Partial exemption for disabled veterans: Texas law provides partial exemptions for any property owned by veterans who are disabled, surviving spouses and surviving children of deceased disabled veterans. This includes homesteads donated to disabled veterans by charitable organizations at no cost or not more than 50 percent of the good faith estimate of the homestead’s market value to the disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The exemption amount is determined according to the percentage of service-connected disability on January 1 of the tax year.
100 Percent Residence Homestead Exemption for Disabled Veterans: A disabled veteran who receives 100 percent disability compensation due to a service-connected disability and a rating of 100 percent disabled or of individual unemployability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is entitled to an exemption from taxation of the total appraised value of the veteran’s residence homestead. Surviving spouses of veterans who qualified for this exemption or who would have qualified for this exemption if it had been in effect at the time of the veteran’s death are also eligible with certain restrictions. The residence homestead application must be filed if this exemption is claimed.
Surviving Spouses of Members of the U.S. Armed Services Killed in the Line of Duty: The surviving spouse of a member of the U.S. armed services who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty is allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption on his or her residence homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the armed services member.
Surviving Spouses of First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty: The eligible surviving spouse of a first responder killed in the line of duty is allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption on his or her residence homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the first responder.
For more details on homestead exemptions, contact the Harris Central Appraisal District at 713-957-7800 or by web form at www.hcad.org > ABOUT > Contact Us. Property owners may obtain an application online at www.hcad.org under “Forms.”
E-mail mynews@southbeltleader.com with news items of interest.