Retailer accused of charging sales tax on tax-exempt merchandise

<p>Customers at Home Depot were improperly charged sales tax on tax-exempt energy conservation products, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Tuesday.</p><p>He asked the Atlanta-based home improvement retailer to provide refunds to Connecticut consumers who were charged the sales taxes after Nov. 25, 2005, when a temporary tax holiday took effect for several energy efficient products.</p><p>Home Depot did not immediately return a call seeking comment.</p><p>After receiving complaints from customers, investigators from Blumenthal's office visited Home Depot and purchased several items for which they were improperly charged the sales tax, he said.</p><p>"What we're really urging is that the company determine why the sales charge was improperly charged and correct the problem," Blumenthal said. "Was it inadvertently charged or a willful violation of the law? At this point our hope and theory is that the company was careless or inadvertent and simply needs to update equipment, computers or better train their personnel."</p><p>The sales tax break, which extends through April 1, applies to items such as programmable thermostats, window film, special caulking, weather stripping, water heater blankets, water heaters, insulation, natural gas furnaces and windows that meet the federal Energy Star standard.</p>

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