North Carolina adds energy tax holiday

The fall sales tax holiday calendar is starting to fill up.

North Carolina is the latest state to schedule an event that offers consumers relief from its state sales and use tax.

The timing of the event, Nov. 7-9, is especially welcome, since by then the state's tax rate will have increased to 4.5 percent. Local levies also will be waived during the November weekend.

As in many other states, this new North Carolina tax holiday is an add-on. The Tar Heel State held its back-to-school event earlier this month.

And as in some other locales, this holiday was created to encourage the purchase of energy-efficient appliances.

Below are the states, listed alphabetically, that are holding tax-free holidays in the coming months.Click the state name (or additional link) for more information from the state's official revenue office. 

Fall Sales Tax Holidays
Click on the state name to go to the official tax holiday Web page.

State	Dates	Tax-exempt Items
District of Columbia	Nov. 21 - Dec. 7	Second round of savings on School supplies, clothing, accessory items and shoes ($100 or less)
Georgia	October 2-5	Energy- and water-efficient products (tax officials say that as the event nears, details will be posted Georgia Department of Revenue Web site)
North Carolina	November 7-9	Energy-efficient clothes washers, freezers, refrigerators, central air conditioners, room air conditioners, air-source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, and programmable thermostats (see page 2 of this PDF document)
South Carolina	November 28-29	Handguns, rifles and shotguns
Virginia	October 10-13	Energy efficient products priced at $2,500 or less
West Virginia	September  1-7	Energy Star residential appliances costing $2,500 or less