Flag Day focus on tax-exempt Stars and Stripes

June 14, 2019
Amy and Sheldon as Betsy Ross have Fun With Flags

Among the flags celebrated on Fun With Flags, the online show within a show in CBS' The Big Bang Theory, was Old Glory. (Photo of Amy Farrah Fowler play by Mayim Bialik and Jim Parsons, who played Sheldon Cooper and Betsy Ross, courtesy Sheldon Cooper presents Fun With Flags Facebook page).

Happy Flag Day!

Long-time readers of the ol' blog already know that June 14 is an extra special day for me.

It was my younger brother's birthday. One of my fondest memories of him was when as a preschooler he thought all the U.S. flags were flying in his honor. We let him believe that until he was old enough to figure out the real reason.

I'm spending today with my mother. In addition to our usual errands, we'll spend time fondly remembering the son and brother we lost way too early.

So that I could get on the road to my Mom's early, I've shifted the usual Saturday Shout Out feature to Friday. But to keep some semblance of alliteration, today is conveniently and fittingly dubbed Flag Friday Focus.

And the focus is on Gail Cole's piece for Avalara from last Flag Day. In it, she takes a look at the various issues involved in how states do or don't collect sales taxes on Old Glory purchases.

Tax-exempt flag sales: Just as individuals in this country have the freedom to purchase and display U.S. flags, or not, states have the freedom to tax them, or not, notes Cole.

Quite a few have chosen to not assess the sales taxes.

Specifically, writes Cole, sales of the following flags are always exempt in:

  • Connecticut: U.S. and Connecticut flags
  • Florida: U.S. flag and official state flag of Florida
  • Maryland: American, Maryland and POW/MIA flags
  • Massachusetts: U.S. flag
  • New Jersey: American and New Jersey state flags
  • New York: American, New York state, POW and military flags
  • Pennsylvania: U.S. flag and the Commonwealth flag
  • Rhode Island: U.S., Rhode Island and POW/MIA flags
  • West Virginia: Regulation-size U.S. flag and regulation-size West Virginia flag (for display)
  • Wisconsin: U.S. flag and the Wisconsin state flag

Check out Cole's story for some special considerations that affect collection of tax on flag sales, like whether the banner is sold solo or part of a display kit.

Also, the Avalara piece points out those states that exempt certain flags under specific conditions.

Regardless of whether you paid tax on your Stars and Stripes or bought the banner tax-free, fly it high and proud today.

I'm sure my brother is still enjoying the displays.

You also might find these items of interest:

Advertisements

 





 

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

Latest Posts
The latest Dirty Dozen tax scam list is familiar because too many are still falling for the schemes

March 5, 2026

Tax filing season is also peak time for tax scams. Be on the lookout for…

Read More
Hello Tax Season 2026

Happy New Tax Year! Are you ready to file your 2025 tax return? I know, too early to ask. But Tax Day 2026 will be here before we realize it. The Internal Revenue Service deadline to file and pay any tax we owe is the regular April 15 date this year. It’s also Tax Day for most of the states that collect income taxes from their residents, which is most of the states! If that seems too far away right now, don’t worry. As is the case every tax season, the ol’ blog’s tips and other tax reminders should help all of us meet our state and federal responsibilities. Procrastinators also will want to keep an eye on the countdown clock just below. It tracks how much time we have until April’s Tax Day, just in case we put off our annual tax task until the absolutely final hours and decide we need to instead get an extension request into the IRS by that date. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Credits/Deductions
Disasters
Family
Filing and Paying Taxes
Politics/Laws
Refunds
State Taxes
Tax Brackets/Inflation
Tax Tips
Comments
Leave the first comment