Most Florida residents are familiar with the term “tax-free” weekend, which applies to sales-tax exemptions on back-to-school supplies, clothing and electronics every late July / early August.
This year, however, Floridians can take advantage of several new “sales tax holidays” that are rolling out all-summer-long (and well into the fall) in an effort to combat rising inflation costs across our state and nation.
The latest of these tax holidays is the Florida ENERGY STAR® Sales Tax Exemption Period, which kicked off July 1, 2022, and runs through June 30, 2023. This tax exemption applies to certain residential ENERGY STAR appliances.
You may be wondering: “What is an ENERGY STAR appliance?”, “What exemptions apply?”, or “Can I save with a new HVAC system?”
Read more about the latest Florida sales tax holiday, how to take advantage of tax-free savings, and explore ENERGY STAR HVAC solutions for your Clearwater home.
What is an ENERGY STAR® Certified Appliance?
The ENERGY STAR program was established in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the authority of the Clean Air Act.
The ENERGY STAR program creates strict energy efficiency standards for manufacturers and products. Today, the ENERGY STAR label is found on more than 75 different certified product categories, homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants.
Appliances with the ENERGY STAR label use less energy than standard appliances and save you money on electricity bills without sacrificing the quality or features you’d expect. Companies that manufacture these products are committed to protecting the environment with fewer power plant emissions.
An ENERGY STAR certification is a win-win for manufacturers and consumers, leading to long-term cost savings and environmental protection for all.
Where Can I Find ENERGY STAR Products?
ENERGY STAR products can be found in most local home improvement stores. (For example, Home Depot in Clearwater and Lowe’s Home Improvement in Clearwater.)
To find a certified product inside your local store, look for the blue ENERGY STAR label on the appliance. The label can also be found in the appliance Energy Guide, which showcases the energy performance rating of the product you’re shopping for.
Prefer to shop online for ENERGY STAR products? Check out the ENERGY STAR Product Finder for product information, rebates and retailers near you.
What is the Florida ENERGY STAR® Sales Tax Exemption?
The Florida ENERGY STAR® Sales Tax Exemption is one of the many “tax holidays” passed by Florida state lawmakers in an effort to combat inflation and promote energy efficiency in consumer households and businesses statewide.
With this new sales tax holiday, you can purchase qualifying ENERGY STAR® appliances without paying sales tax during the 2022-2023 ENERGY STAR Appliances Sales Tax Exemption through June 30, 2023.
What items are exempt from this Florida Sales Tax holiday?
The Florida’s ENERGY STAR Appliances Sales Tax Exemption Period applies to specific ENERGY STAR appliances for noncommercial use, including certain refrigerator and freezer units, water heaters, washing machines, and dryers.
Sales tax exemption applies to the following products:
- Washing machines selling for $1,500 or less
- Clothes dryers selling for $1,500 or less
- Water heaters selling for $1,500 or less
- Refrigerators or combination refrigerator/freezers selling for $3,000 or less
Want more information about qualifying tax-exempt purchases? Review the 2022-2023 Florida ENERGY STAR Appliances Sales Tax Exemption FAQs for Consumers for details.
Save on ENERGY STAR Certified HVAC Systems
ENERGY STAR certified central air conditioners are not included in this Florida ENERGY STAR® Sales Tax Exemption Period—but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of savings by replacing your old HVAC system.
Many Clearwater customers are surprised to learn that installing a new HVAC system can help save them energy, money and protect the climate in the long run. Instead of looking at the price tag, they see it’s worth the reward. That’s because older AC units are less efficient and use more energy due to recent innovations in HVAC technology and testing.
The latest central air conditioners—also known as electric air-source heat pumps (ASHPs)—provide highly efficient heating and cooling by pulling the heat out of your home in the summer and extracting heat from outside into your home in the winter. These ASHPs usually earn an ENERGY STAR certification for their peak performance.
To learn which ENERGY STAR products are the best for energy efficiency and innovation, visit the Air-Source Heat Pumps section on energystar.gov. To see if a new HVAC system is right for you, contact Air Care today.
Rheem ENERGY STAR-Certified Heating and Cooling Solutions
Rheem®, our top recommendation for new HVAC equipment, offers a wide assortment of ENERGY STAR-certified heating and cooling solutions designed to help you and your family use less energy and save more money.
According to the top AC brand, installing a new Rheem residential air product with the ENERGY STAR label helps you save 15% to 40% on heating and cooling costs. Learn more about Rheem ENERGY STAR certified products.
Our AC technicians at Air Care— ”—are thoroughly trained on Rheem HVAC systems and raise the bar for HVAC service and installation across the Tampa Bay area.
Contact Air Care today to learn more about installing a new Rheem HVAC system.
Trust Our HVAC Contractors to Replace or Repair Your AC System
If you need to replace, repair or maintain your HVAC system, our team at Air Care is here to help. We’re also here to answer any questions you have about ENERGY STAR-certified HVAC systems and saving money on cooling and heating costs.
As a local AC company for more than 30 years, Air Care serves Pinellas, western Hillsborough and southern Pasco county houses, townhomes, condos, apartments, and small businesses. We pride ourselves in providing top service to our AC customers—resulting in countless customer reviews, high ratings and a Rheem Pro Partner status.
“In my experience, knowing the best contractors for specific jobs is the best thing as a homeowner. Those who rent don’t have to worry about repair roofs or air conditioners, but a homeowner does. This is why I use Air Care for all of my AC repairs. Air Care is always great to deal with. They are punctual and efficient in resolving our issues with our air conditioning system whenever we call them.” – Gregory W. of Dunedin, FL
Call Air Care at 727-449-2699 to feel cool and comfortable inside your home all year long.
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APPENDIX:
Energystar.gov: What makes a product ENERGY STAR?
Florida Department of Revenue: Sales Tax Exemption
Energystar.gov: Air-Source Heat Pumps
Rheem Energy-Star HVAC Solutions
