|
||||||||||||
|
|
Kansas City News Today Kansas City Front Page is a weekly news publication, with daily updates, spotlighting attractions, events, business and hospitality in Kansas City. |
KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Friday, March 20, 2009  Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday in April KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), Friday, March 20, 2009 - Citizens will be able to save money, save energy and stimulate the economy by participating in Missouri's first Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday. The holiday, which runs from April 19-25, means a savings of at least 4.225 percent to people who purchase new ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances in Missouri during the holiday. The reduced price represents the elimination of the state's sales tax from the purchase. "During these tough economic times, saving money is important to everyone," said Karen King Mitchell, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue. "The Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday represents an ideal time to buy these appliances because you can get them at a reduced price but also save money on your future utility bills." Mitchell also noted that several local governmental entities have opted to participate in the holiday. This means that some purchases will be exempt not just from the state sales tax, but also city, county and special district sales taxes. Nine counties, 57 cities and eight special districts (all listed below) have opted to participate in the holiday. "Anyone who buys a qualified appliance in Missouri will be exempt from paying the state sales tax," Mitchell said. "But people can obtain maximum savings in towns or cities where the local governments have decided to participate in the holiday. In some areas, the tax savings jump from 4.225 percent to nearly 8 percent." Mark Templeton, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, stressed the importance of purchasing appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program allows manufacturers of appliances to voluntarily label selected appliances if they meet certain criteria. The goal is to promote appliances that perform as well or better than similar appliances while using less energy. The program has saved businesses and consumers billions of dollars since its inception in 1992. "Most of the energy used in our homes comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which increases greenhouse gas emissions," said Templeton. "Using energy-efficient appliances reduces the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, which is obviously better for the environment." "I encourage Missourians to make energy efficient choices and use energy efficient appliances," said Templeton. "Choosing ENERGY STAR-certified appliances could save many Missouri families about a third on their energy bill, without sacrificing features, style, or comfort," said Templeton. ENERGY STAR-certified appliances that qualify for the sales tax exemption are: * Clothes washers * Refrigerators * Freezers * Dishwashers * Water heaters * Furnaces * Air conditioners * Heat pumps The sales tax exemption only applies to the first $1,500 on each appliance. If an appliance costs more than $1,500, the regular sales tax rate is in effect for any of the purchase price above $1,500. Although the legislation (Senate Bill 1181) creating the Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday listed other appliances eligible for the sales tax savings, not all appliances have met ENERGY STAR guidelines. Examples of appliances NOT eligible for the sales tax exemption are clothes dryers, trash compactors, conventional ovens, ranges and stoves. Lighting fixtures, office equipment, home electronics and other non-appliance ENERGY STAR labeled-products are also not eligible for the sales tax exemption. "Check a Charity" Database Reaches 1,000 Organizations KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), Friday, March 20, 2009 - Attorney General Chris Koster says the Check a Charity feature on his Web site recently added the 1,000th charitable organization to its records, giving consumers more information and options than ever before when considering charitable donations. "Consumers face a dizzying array of options when researching the charities they;d like to help financially, and it's overwhelming when you add in all the telemarketing calls and mail solicitations," Koster said. "Before making a donation Missourians need to do their research, and Check a Charity is a good place to start." Consumers can search for a charity by name or look at an alphabetized list. Online records for each charity will show the amount of money raised in the past year and what percentage of funds was spent on program services, as opposed to administrative costs like fundraising, overhead and payroll. Koster and most consumer advocates nationwide recommend consumers give to charities that spend at least 65 percent of their funds on program services. Most of the data comes from the charities' IRS 990, which includes a description of the charity=s mission as well as the financial information described above. Koster says a charity's listing on the Web site should not be seen as a "seal of approval" from the Attorney General, but rather as one piece of information to be considered when researching a donation. The Check a Charity link can be found at the Attorney General's Web site, ago.mo.gov. Consumers without Internet access can obtain the same information by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline, 1-800-392-8222.   The Kansas City Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Kansas City area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 2007 - 2009 Moore Design Group. |
   |
