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It’s that time of year when we head out of the lot to pick the perfect Christmas tree – or head over to the nearest store and buy a pre-lit one. I don’t blame you. Untangling these little guys is never fun!
But all this Christmas tree purchasing begs one question:
Do you Have to Pay Sales Tax on Your Christmas Tree?
The short answer is (almost always): yes.
Your Christmas tree is “tangible personal property.” Tangible personal property is almost always taxable. The only time it isn’t taxable is when there is some sort of exemption. Sales tax exemptions vary from state to state and you can find links to what each state considers sales tax exempt by choosing your state on this sales tax map.
Tree Your World
Speaking of sales tax exemptions, you’ll notice that states tend to give exemptions to industries they are trying to support. For example, many states in the Midwest exempt agricultural equipment. Many other states, who are trying to prevent losing manufacturing to other states are countries, make manufacturing equipment sales tax exempt.
Are the times changing?
In 2016, the state of Mississippi bucked tradition and passed a law making Christmas trees a non-taxable transaction. But the law included some caveats. Christmas trees in Mississippi are only non-taxable if they are cut and sold at the same time and place.
For example, a Mississippi farmer who grows Christmas trees and then allows buyers to choose, cut and purchase their preferred tree from the farm does not have to charge Mississippi sales tax when selling Christmas trees.
But a retailer who purchases and cuts a selection of Christmas trees from a farm and then resells them in his own Mississippi location (think the trees you see in the parking lot at Big Box stores during the holidays) would be required to charge Mississippi sales tax on Christmas trees.
The Fight for Tax-Free Christmas Trees
Two other states have fought hard to eliminate the sales tax on Christmas trees, with one Pennsylvania state representative going so far as to name his bill the “Don’t Be a Scrooge” bill. The Pennsylvania bill, which never gained traction, would have exempted Christmas trees sold on Christmas tree farms from sales tax.
Lawmakers in neighboring New York also proposed eliminating the sales tax on Christmas trees, though their tax break would have been more like an extended sales tax holiday. In the New York proposal, evergreen products like Christmas trees would have been non-taxable during a “Go Green” sales tax holiday.
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In conclusion, as it stands you’ll most likely find yourself paying sales tax on your Christmas tree this year. Christmas greetings in polish. That is unless you choose to buy your Christmas tree from a farm in Mississippi. Maybe in the future the taxman – at least in New York or Pennsylvania – won’t be such a Grinch!
Christmas trees in the United States are a big deal. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, 25-30 million are sold every year. Many environmentalists cringe at this thought, but there are lots of options for making this once-a-year practice more sustainable.
Rent a Tree!
Yes, you read that right. Find a local business that grows live potted trees, delivers them to your doorstep, and then picks them up after Christmas. These trees are less of a fire hazard, help your indoor air quality, and drop less of those annoying pine needles everywhere.
Feeling attached to your tree? Don’t worry. Hug away. And, you can rent the same one year after year.
Start a Personal Forest?
Tree Your
Okay, so you’re ready to commit? Then this option might be right for you: you can purchase a live tree with root ball intact. After Christmas, remove the decorations and give the tree a new life outside in your yard or in a nearby forest. You might also consider a non-traditional option, like a fruit tree or other plant that might better compliment your space.
Here’s some guidance around tree planting.
No, I Like the Tradition of a Cut Tree.
That’s okay! As these trees grow on the farm, they release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. You can opt to cut one yourself on National Forest land. The US Forest Service guidelines help ensure that you remove trees in a responsible manner that may even benefit the forest.
Or, visit your local tree farm! Christmas tree farms provide around 100,000 jobs, which is something you can feel good about. Choose organic where you can, so you’re not exposing the environment or your home to toxic chemicals.
After Christmas, make sure to recycle your cut tree at one of 4,000 recycling centers across the country, where it can be turned into mulch or otherwise used in conservation and restoration efforts. Many towns have local pick up service as well.
The Great Christmas Tree Debate: Fake or Real, which is Best?
You might notice that we didn’t include artificial trees in our list of sustainable options.
There are many reasons for this. Artificial trees are made from petroleum-based products and many contain chemicals that are harmful during production, in your home, and after they’re discarded. 85 percent of these trees are imported from China, so their carbon footprint is quite large. And, while many point to the long-life of these trees, consumers only keep them for an average of 6 years before they are sent to spend eternity in a landfill, where they have many negative impacts. If you’re interested in an artificial tree, see if you can rescue a used one!
Why do we support real Christmas trees as a more environmental option? Well, their climate impact is one major reason. Like all plants, Christmas trees grow by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air; this carbon makes up around half of the tree’s dry weight. So, these trees spend their average lifespan of 7 years providing this service, and they are ultimately biodegradable. When you buy a real Christmas tree from a farm, it’s a crop grown specifically for this purpose, oftentimes on soil that can’t support other agriculture. And, while it’s growing, it may be preserving green space and habitats.
Research shows that the amount of carbon dioxide released from an artificial tree’s life cycle is around 18 pounds per year (based on its average 6 years of use), whereas a real tree releases around 7 pounds (if the tree is incinerated after use).
Note that when a tree is burned or otherwise allowed to decompose, the tree’s carbon is released back into the air—a major reason why we advocate for real trees that live past the holiday season.
Bonus, there IS a Regenerative Option!
Check out this Christmas tree farm that uses regenerative methods. These farmers are coppicing trees to produce a new Christmas tree every decade on rootstocks that have been around since the 1950s! Less disturbance of the soils means more carbon sequestered or drawn out of the atmosphere, so you can feel great about the climate benefits of this option. This is our #1 recommendation for the greenest possible Christmas trees, but only those near the Massachusetts farm may really be able to benefit.