Texas Emergency Prep Items Go Tax-Free This Weekend

Texarkana, Texas and other area residents will have a chance to stock up on emergency essentials without shelling out for sales tax this weekend, thanks to the Texas Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. The tax-free weekend begins Saturday, April 26, and runs through Monday, April 28.

Lots of people ask; Is this just for residents of Texas?" The answer is, NO. The sales tax holiday is for anyone shopping in the Great State of Texas this weekend.

Created in 2015, the annual sales tax holiday lets Texans purchase certain emergency preparation supplies both in stores and online without the added cost of sales tax. Items that qualify include flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and other basic emergency gear.

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With spring storms already moving through the area and hurricane season starting June 1, Governor Abbott is urging residents here in Bowie and Cass counties, as well as the whole state, to take this opportunity to prepare now.

“Having emergency supplies ready can make a real difference when severe weather strikes,” said Governor Greg Abbott in a statewide announcement earlier this week. He encouraged all Texans to take advantage of the tax break to get ahead on disaster prep.

More information, including a full list of eligible items, is available through the Texas Comptroller’s website. Residents can also find preparedness tips and emergency planning resources at TexasReady.gov and tdem.texas.gov/prepare.