(May 6, 2015)
A Louisiana Department of Revenue bulletin provides guidance on the state sales tax holiday for purchases of hurricane preparedness items scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2015, and end 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2015.
During this annual two-day holiday, eligible emergency-related items are exempt from the 4% state sales tax on the first $1,500 of the sales price of each item. Local taxes apply unless specifically exempted by local taxing authorities. The bulletin provides a list of items eligible for exemption, such as portable self-powered light sources, ground anchor systems or tie-down kits, and storm shutter devices. The exemption does not apply to sales of hurricane preparedness items or supplies sold by vendors located at any airport, public lodging establishment or hotel, convenience store, or entertainment complex.
For a 60-day period after the holiday, dealers who issue a refund or credit for the return of merchandise that was eligible for sales tax exemption during the holiday can issue a refund or credit for the state sales tax on that returned merchandise only if the customers have receipts showing that the tax was paid on the original purchases or the dealers can otherwise document that state sales tax was paid on the original purchases.
The bulletin also covers the following topics: (1) layaways; (2) purchases made during or after the holiday with “rain checks” issued before the holiday; (3) orders shipped after the holiday; (4) post-holiday exchanges of merchandise; and (5) the cash register reprogramming credit allowed to dealers who incur costs to reprogram cash registers as a result of a change in the state sales and use tax rate or base. Retailers should report exempt sales on Line 24 of the state sales and use tax return (R-1029).
Revenue Information Bulletin No. 15-009, Louisiana Department of Revenue, May 5, 2015, ¶202-622
