Save money on these emergency supplies during tax-free weekend

If February’s devastating winter storm is not motivation enough to prepare for emergencies, maybe a tax-free weekend will be.

Several emergency preparation supplies will be tax free April 24-26. The Sales Tax Holiday happens annually in April, just before the start of hurricane season and serves as a reminder that severe weather such as flooding can occur in San Antonio during the rainy season.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, through midnight Monday, April 26, residents can purchase items such as household batteries and flashlights without paying sales taxes.

There are no limits on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, but there are price restrictions. For example, flashlights are only tax free if they cost less than $75.

The Texas Comptroller’s office also reminds online shoppers that shipping charges are included in the total sales price and is also taxable. If you purchase a rescue ladder for $299 and the delivery charge is $10, you would have to pay taxes on the $309 total.

According to the Comptroller’s office, shoppers save more than $1.8 million in state and local sales taxes during the tax holiday, which was approved by the state legislature in 2015.

Among the items that do not qualify are camping supplies, boats, chainsaws, plywood and more.

A list of tax-free emergency supplies can be found on the Comptroller’s website.

Below are some of the items that will be tax free.