Luigi Rosa via (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) Flickr

In contrast to California, which is aiming to jack up ammo taxes, West Virginia is looking to remove them outright.

Last Thursday Governor Jim Justice signed H.R. 2499 which will remove the state’s sales tax on firearms and ammunition, this will go into effect on July 1st. The legislation will also offer tax credits to firearms and ammunition manufactures, this will make the state even more of a safe haven for the firearms industry.

From Bearing Arms: 

Del. Gary Howell, the primary sponsor of the bill, tells Bearing Arms that in addition to scrapping the sales tax on firearms and ammunition, the legislation also offers important tax credits to manufacturers, making the state an even friendlier home to the firearms industry.

As Howell explains it, the new bill creates tax incentives on the cost of equipment for manufacturing small arms and ammo, reducing the amount of property tax that companies will pay in return for building their manufacturing facility in the state.

Additionally, West Virginia-based firearms and ammunition manufacturers will now be allowed to use the federal excise taxes that they have to pay as a tax credit against any state-level tax bill. Howell says his hope is that with the new legislation in place, gun and ammo manufacturers won’t have to pay any state taxes, making the state an attractive environment for companies looking to relocate from anti-gun blue states to friendlier pastures (and hollers).

The end of sales taxes on firearms and ammunition may be the most visible feature of new law, at least from a consumer’s perspective. The sales tax rate in West Virginia is 6%, so while ammunition may still be hard to find, it will be a little less expensive for purchasers beginning later this year.

As mentioned earlier, California is going in the opposite direction. Democrats in the state are pushing an ammo tax for an unknown amount and a $25 tax on new guns being sold in the state. This measure from California Democrats is made to punish consumers and keep firearms out of the hands of the state’s residents.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

You may also like