Sales tax holiday lights up retailer

By Rachel Tobin Ramos

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Home Depot, for one, is excited to get customers in its stores for Georgia’s energy- and water-conservation sales tax holiday.

Starting at midnight on Thursday and running through midnight on Sunday, Georgians will not pay state or local sales taxes on any ENERGY STAR-qualified or WaterSense-labeled products that cost $1,500 or less. These products typically use about 30 percent less energy than their conventional counterparts.

The tax exemption this year comes after a prolonged recession that has kept consumer confidence low and put retail spending on the decline.

“What’s most important, it brings people into the store,” said Ron DeFeo, spokesman for the Atlanta-based Home Depot.

“And since they are looking for these kinds of products, it gives us a chance to showcase how many products we have that are energy and/or water efficient and introduce shoppers to our Eco Options line.”

Home Depot has been expanding its eco-friendly line of products, from light bulbs to sealants. The company now sells more than $3 billion worth of these kinds of products. Not all of these items are exempted.

This is the state’s fifth ENERGY STAR exemption and second for WaterSense products.

Tax-exempt items include: air conditioners, ceiling fans, fluorescent light bulbs, clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, bathroom sinks and toilets.

For more information, see the Georgia Department of Revenue Web site: www.dor.ga.gov.