S.C. plans a tax-free period on guns
Some confusion still surrounds state legislation passed earlier this year, waiving the sales tax on handgun, rifles and shotguns during the 48 hours following the Thanksgiving holiday.
The bill passed in the General Assembly on June 4, was vetoed by the Governor on June 11 and was then overridden by the legislature later that month.
On Thursday, the Department of Revenue issued a press release announcing what they are calling the "Second Amendment" Sales Tax Holiday, but Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken said an unrelated portion of the bill that addressed ethanol blended fuel was found unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court and in-turn the sales tax holiday would not occur this year.
Other lawmakers, however have said only the portion dealing with the fuel was eliminated.
Ryberg spoke with a Department of Revenue attorney Thursday who he said he was looking into the matter further. The senator said he hoped to have some clarification soon.
A spokesperson for the Department of Revenue who issued the Thursday press release said she was familiar with the legislative quagmire, but was assured the 48-hour tax break on firearm purchases would begin at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 28 and continue through midnight Nov. 29.
The tax exemption also applies to any local sales and use tax.
It does not apply to ammunition, black powder, holsters, archery supplies and "similar items." It does not apply to antique or collectible handguns or handguns that do not fire a fixed cartridge.
The S.C. Department of Revenue has posted a list of exempt and nonexempt items and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions at www.sctax.org.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com
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