With hurricane season fast approaching, Texas is helping residents prepare by offering a tax break on essential emergency supplies during a special sales tax holiday.
From Saturday, April 26 through Monday, April 28, 2025, Texans can purchase a wide range of emergency preparedness items without paying sales tax. The exemption applies to supplies useful for natural disasters such as hurricanes, flash floods, and even wildfires.
What can you buy tax-free?
There is no limit to the number of items you can purchase, as long as each item stays within the approved price range:
Items under $3,000
- Portable generators
Items under $300
- Emergency ladders
- Window security bars or locks
Items under $75
- Axes
- Batteries
- Manual can openers (non-electric)
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Non-electric coolers and ice chests
- Fire extinguishers
- First aid kits
- Gasoline containers
- Anchoring systems and tie-down kits
- Light sources like candles, flashlights, and lanterns
- Cell phone batteries and chargers
- Portable radios
- Smoke detectors
- Tarps and plastic sheeting
Where can you buy them?
Purchases can be made in-store, online, by phone, or by mail—as long as the order is placed during the tax-free period and the price, including shipping, does not exceed the allowed limit.
If you are accidentally charged sales tax on any eligible item, you can request a refund from the seller.
For more details, including the full list of qualifying items, visit the Texas Comptroller’s website or call 800-531-5441, ext. 34545.
This tax-free weekend helps families save money while boosting their readiness for whatever nature brings.
Keep up with more financial tips to save money with us on Que Onda Magazine.