Save on Air Conditioners, Dishwashers and More During 2019 ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend

By Ashlyn Heffline, Office of Communication

Posted on May 20, 2019, May 20, 2019

During Memorial Day weekend, Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales and use taxes on purchases of certain energy efficient products.

The 2019 ENERGY STAR sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 25 and ends at midnight on Monday, May 27.

The products qualifying for the exemption are:

• 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
• Programmable thermostats*

Examples of items that do not qualify and are taxable, even if they are ENERGY STAR-labelled include:

• water heaters
• clothes dryers
• freezers
• stoves
• attic fans
• heat pumps
• wine refrigerators
• kegerators
• beverage chillers

*ENERGY STAR specification of programmable thermostats was suspended on Dec. 31, 2009; however, any existing stock of ENERGY STAR labeled programmable thermostats offered for sale by retailers is still eligible for the exemption.

Qualifying products will display the ENERGY STAR logo, which may appear on the appliance, the packaging or the Energy Guide label. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by these two federal agencies.

There is no limit on the number of qualifying items one can purchase during this sales tax holiday, and an exemption certificate is not required.

For more information about eligible expenses, visit the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts webpage.