Hybrid vehicle sales tax exemption to end Aug. 1

A temporary sales tax exemption for certain hybrid vehicles is scheduled to end Aug. 1, according to the Washington state Department of Revenue.

New hybrid vehicle purchasers need to take possession by July 31 to receive the exemption, which went into effect Jan. 1. The exemption was repealed last month by state legislators as part of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6170, which revised several environmental tax incentives.

Hybrid buyers will still be exempt from the separate 0.3 percent state motor vehicle sales tax. Purchasers of all vehicles that are powered by clean, alternative fuels - natural gas, propane, hydrogen and electricity - will be exempt from all sales taxes through Dec. 31, 2010.