We have enjoyed sales tax exemption for equipment that generates electricity for over 10 years here in Washington State. Come July 1st, that particular party is over and grid-tied pv becomes 9.0% more expensive in our home town of Port Townsend; most municipalities have sales tax rates in the 8’s. We are very close to filling our calendar and will soon be unable to commit to completing projects before June 30.
We will however be able to sell the equipment without sales tax if the buyer receives the equipment on or before June 30, 2013.
For the installation charges to qualify for the sales tax exemption as well, the labor must be performed no later than June 30, 2013. Any labor services performed after June 30, 2013, are fully subject to sales tax.
So while we normally enjoy a healthy philosophical and political debate, please withhold your comments as to whether having sales tax instead of income tax is “fair” or “regressive.” We are too busy installing to think about it right now. Maybe we’ll take a couple of days off in July to ponder that question.