Military shoppers in the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico can purchase major appliances tax-free from The Home Depot and schedule delivery and installation through a collaboration between the store and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. (AAFES)
Military personnel, their families and other exchange shoppers in the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico will soon be able to buy major appliances tax-free from The Home Depot.
Five bases will be the first to get appliance showrooms within the remaining days of spring, Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials said last week, ahead of the rollout of a partnership program announced last fall.
The five bases are Fort Moore, Ga.; Fort Sill, Okla.; Dyess Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph and Fort Cavazos in Texas.
Eventually, more than 60 exchange stores will have showrooms for big-ticket appliance shopping. A Home Depot-branded portal will also be set up at shopmyexchange.com. AAFES didn’t announce a timeline for the rest of the showrooms.
Major appliances to be sold through the partnership include washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, microwaves, ranges, cooktops, ovens and hoods.
Orders will be filled by Home Depot, which will handle customer service for all deliveries and installations.
Home Depot exchange purchases will exclude state and local sales taxes, AAFES officials said last fall when announcing the program. Savings will vary by state and possibly by installation.
In Texas, for example, the state sales tax is 6.25%. Local jurisdictions, such as cities and counties, may also impose up to a 2% sales and use tax for a maximum combined rate of 8.25%, according to information on the Texas state comptroller website. A service member in that state who buys a 4.5 cubic foot, large capacity front-load washer, currently retailing for $848 on Home Depot’s website, could save from about $52 to $68 by buying through the exchange, if the sales tax is excluded.
The Home Depot already offers a 10% military discount on select items, services and fees of up to $400 annually, but the offer can’t be applied to appliances, according to the company’s website.
The program will be open to active-duty service members and their dependents, military retirees, Defense Department civilians and retirees and honorably discharged veterans.
All shoppers will need to confirm their eligibility, which they can do at https://shopmyexchange.com.
