Maryland Tax Free Weekend For Energy Star Appliances

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland shoppers who buy qualifying Energy Star appliances this weekend will receive a break from the state's 6 percent sales tax. From Saturday, Feb. 17, through Monday, Feb. 19, consumers who buy air conditioners, refrigerators, washers and dryers, boilers, dehumidifiers, compact fluorescent light bulbs and other qualifying Energy Star products will get the tax break.

According to the Maryland Comptroller's Office, during Shop Maryland Energy weekend, these Energy Star products are tax free:

• Air conditioners
• Washers and dryers
• Furnaces
• Heat pumps
• Boilers
• Solar water heaters (tax-exempt at all times now)
• Standard size refrigerators
• Dehumidifiers
• Programmable thermostats
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs

The Shop Maryland Energy weekend began at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 17 and runs through midnight on Monday, Feb. 19.

A list of exempt and taxable items can be found on the comptroller's website at www.marylandtaxes.com, or by calling the Taxpayer Service Section at 410-260-7980 in Central Maryland or toll-free 1-800-MD TAXES from elsewhere.

A complete list of ENERGY STAR items may be found at www.energystar.gov. Energy rankings apply to virtually every type of appliance, from TVs, computers, clothes washers and dryers to pool pumps, light fixtures and water heaters.

Only air conditioners, clothes washers, clothes dryers, furnaces, heat pumps, standard size refrigerators, compact fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, boilers and programmable thermostats that have been designated as meeting or exceeding the applicable Energy Star efficiency requirements developed by the federal government may carry the Energy Star label and are exempt during the Shop Maryland Energy weekend. In addition, the exemption applies to the sale of any solar water heater.

Other types of appliances and equipment do not qualify for exemption even though they may also
carry the Energy Star label.

If you live outside of Maryland, you may purchase qualifying items from Maryland retailers tax-free during Shop Maryland Energy weekend. But officials warn most states impose a use tax on items brought or delivered into a state, and you may owe tax to the state where you intend to use the item. Also, if the Maryland retailer where you make your purchase has locations in your state, the retailer will be required to charge and collect that state’s tax on delivered items.

The annual Shop Maryland Energy weekend is now in its seventh year.

Image courtesy of the Maryland Comptroller's office