HB 2162
AN ACT relating to the classification of certain sales of firearms as
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Modifies Texas sales tax rules for occasional sales of firearms and personal property. It allows individuals to sell up to 10 firearms per year without being classified as a business, with a maximum annual sales limit of $6,000 for firearms and $3,000 for other personal property. The legislation provides tax exemptions for individual sellers who are not habitually engaged in selling items and do not hold a sales tax permit, helping casual sellers avoid being treated as formal retailers.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the classification of certain sales of firearms as occasional sales for purposes of sales and use taxes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 151.304(b), (c), (d), (f), and (g), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows: (1) "Firearm" has the meaning assigned by 18 U.S.C. (2) "Occasional[, "occasional] sale" means: (A) [(1)] one or two sales of taxable items, other than an amusement service, at retail during a 12-month period by a person who does not habitually engage, or hold himself out as engaging, in the business of selling taxable items at retail; (B) [(2)] the sale of the entire operating assets of a business or of a separate division, branch, or identifiable (C) [(3)] a transfer of all or substantially all the property used by a person in the course of an activity if after the transfer the real or ultimate ownership of the property is substantially similar to that which existed before the transfer; (D) [(4)] the sale of not more than 10 admissions for amusement services during a 12-month period by a person who does not hold himself out as engaging, or does not habitually engage, in providing amusement services; or (E) [(5)] the sale of tangible personal property (i) [(A)] the property was originally bought by the individual or a member of the individual's family for the personal use of the individual or the individual's family; (ii) [(B)] the individual does not hold a permit issued under this chapter and is not required to obtain a permit as a "seller" or "retailer" as those terms are defined by (iii) [(C)] the individual does not employ an auctioneer, broker, or factor, other than an online auction, to sell the property and the property is not a firearm, or if the property is a firearm, does not employ a broker or factor, other than an online auction, to sell the property; and (iv) [(D)] the individual's total receipts from sales of the individual's tangible personal property in a calendar year do not exceed $3,000 for sales of property not including firearms and do not exceed $6,000 for sales of firearms. (c) Within the meaning of Subsection (b)(2)(B) [(b)(2) of this section], a separate division, branch, or identifiable segment of a business exists if before its sale the income and expenses attributable to the separate division, branch, or segment could be separately ascertained from the books of account or record. (d) Within the meaning of Subsection (b)(2)(C) [(b)(3) of this section], the stockholders, bondholders, partners, or other persons holding an interest in a corporation or other entity have the real or ultimate ownership of the property of the corporation or (f) Subsection (b)(2)(A) [(b)(1) of this section] does not apply to a sale made by a person who holds a permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. (g) A person who holds a permit issued under this chapter and makes a purchase from a person entitled to claim the exemption provided by Subsection (b)(2)(A) [(b)(1) of this section] shall accrue use tax on the transaction and remit it to the comptroller. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not affect tax liability accruing before the effective date of this Act. That liability continues in effect as if this Act had not been enacted, and the former law is continued in effect for the collection of taxes due and for civil and criminal enforcement of SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Weapons and related subject areas.
Brianna M. Menard
Haley Cornyn
Michael J. Johnson
Vera Denise Rose
Gavin L. Massingill
Fred Shannon
Sarah Hicks
Matthew Bentley
Luis Saenz
Kelly Barnes
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the classification of certain sales of firearms as
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