Deal announces ENERGY STAR and WaterSense sales tax holiday

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that Georgians can save money while conserving energy and water during the upcoming ENERGY STAR and WaterSense sales tax holiday.

“I encourage everyone to play their part in maintaining our environment by participating in the tax-free holiday to save money and, ultimately, conserve Georgia’s resources,” Deal said.

The sales tax holiday will take place Oct. 5-7 and will apply to:

• Dishwashers, clothes washers, air conditioners, ceiling fans, fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats, refrigerators, doors and windows that have the ENERGY STAR label and a purchase price of $1,500 or less.
• Bathroom sink faucets, high-efficiency toilets and urinals, showerheads, faucet accessories (such as aerators), and weather- or sensor-based irrigation controllers that have the WaterSense label and a purchase price of $1,500 or less.     

The state and local sales tax exemption will not apply to items purchased for trade or business use, or items rented or leased.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, which encourages the use of energy efficient products and practices to save money and protect the environment. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov.

WaterSense, an EPA partnership program, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering consumers a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

“Through the sales tax holiday, Georgians will have the opportunity to show their commitment to the stewardship of our state’s natural resources,” said executive director of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority Kevin Clark.

The sales tax-free holiday was reinstated under the Georgia Jobs and Family Tax Reform Plan. The tax reform package includes recommendations from the Georgia Competiveness Initiative, and fulfills one of Deal’s campaign promises to reduce the tax burden on Georgia families. To read the tax reform legislation in its entirety, click here.

For more information on Georgia’s ENERGY STAR and WaterSense Sales Tax Holiday and to obtain a list of eligible products, visit www.gefa.org or www.etax.dor.ga.gov.