Washington County businesses seeks inventory tax exemption in Mississippi

Mississippi companies seek ‘free port exemption’

GREENVILLE, Miss. — The Delta Economic Development Center and some local industries have asked Washington County supervisors for a break on inventory taxes.

The inventory tax is placed on items in storage.

In 2003, the Mississippi Legislature passed a law allowing counties that tax goods shipped out of state to eliminate the so-called free port warehouse tax. The law allows counties to phase the tax out over 10 years to relieve the impact of the loss of revenue.

DEDC chief executive Ed Johnson says the tax is a burden on companies that store goods for later distribution.

Washington County supervisors took no action on the request.