It’s that one time you actually WANT to see “hurricane” and “holiday” in the same sentence: when a sales tax holiday through June 7 can ease the burden on your wallet as you take every reasonable step to be ready for severe weather.
We realize not everyone spends all year preparing for hurricane season like TECO does. But now that it’s here, we (and many others) urge you to take responsible steps for your household. This website has the tax holiday details, but to sum up, the key items you can now purchase tax-free are as follows:
Selling for $10 or less:
Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)
Selling for $20 or less:
Any portable self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank, or gas):
• Candles
• Flashlights
• Lanterns
Selling for $25 or less:
Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers.
Selling for $30 or less:
Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only (excluding automobile and boat batteries):
• AAA-cell
• AA-cell
• C-cell
• D-cell
• 6-volt
• 9-volt
• Coolers and ice chests (food-storage; nonelectrical)
Selling for $50 or less:
Bungee cords
Ground anchor systems
Radios (powered by battery, solar, or hand-crank) – Two-way or Weather band
Ratchet straps
Tarpaulins (tarps)
Tie-down kits
Visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting
Selling for $750 or less:
Portable generators used to provide light or communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage.
Note: Eligible light sources and radios qualify for the exemption even if electrical cords are also included.
A few other things…
In addition to these items and others you can think of, do you have a household plan in place? Be sure to factor in elderly or ill members of your household, as well as pets (not that you wouldn’t, of course). Have a place to escape to if you need to, whether it’s a friend’s home away from the worst weather or at your community shelter. There’s much more good guidance available on tampaelectric.com and elsewhere – but you have to take it to heart to maximize the benefits.
Where household items are concerned, hopefully the sales tax holiday will help you get your ducks in a row…well before you find ducks swimming in your living room if a deluge puts them there. And while hoping that the worst doesn’t happen in hurricane season might bring a little psychological comfort, the best comfort of all is being stocked up with everything you need to stay safe until severe weather is firmly in the rearview mirror. With luck, that’ll be holiday season.
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