|
Fifteen states and the District of Columbia are offering
shoppers back-to-school sales tax holidays this year. The participating jurisdictions are listed below
alphabetically.
Most of the tax-exempt shopping sessions fall on the
first weekend of August. But be sure to carefully schedule your
shopping trip or you could miss out on the savings. The holidays
in Iowa and Louisiana, for example, end at midnight Saturday instead
of running through the end of the weekend.
 |
Back-to-school tax holiday schedule |
|
|
| • |
• |
| • |
• |
| • |
• |
| • |
• |
| • |
• |
| • |
• |
| • |
• |
| • |
• |
|
Before you tell the clerk to ring
up your purchases, make sure the items are holiday-eligible.
Some goods will save you sales-tax dollars, others
won't. Participating states have detailed and
sometimes seemingly contradictory lists of sales-tax-exempt
items.
Alabama
- Tax holiday dates: Aug. 3-5
- General exempt items:
During the first weekend of each August, Alabama
shoppers will be spared paying state sales tax
on clothing costing less than $100, as well
as on school supplies selling for up to $50
each and books that cost up to $30. Computers
and software are also tax-exempt as long as
their costs do not exceed $750.
- Notable exceptions:
While the state sales tax will not be collected
this weekend, cities and counties have the choice
to opt out of the holiday. The state has compiled
a table
showing which local jurisdictions are participating
or not.
More information is available on Alabama's
sales-tax holiday Web site.
Connecticut
- Tax holiday dates: Aug. 19-25
- General exempt items: Clothing and
footwear costing less than $300 per item are free from sales and
use taxes during this week. Layaway purchases also qualify as long the customer puts the qualifying clothing or footwear on layaway during the tax-exclusion week; none of the subsequent payments, even if made after the sales tax holiday ends, are taxable. Rented clothing, such as formal wear, also is exempt as long as it does not exceed $300 and the customer takes possession of the clothing during the tax holiday week.
- Notable exceptions: Retailers will
continue to collect sales taxes on athletic apparel and footwear,
as well as on jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets,
watches and similar items carried, but not worn, by the customer.
More information is available on Connecticut's
sales-tax holiday Web site.
Florida
- Tax holiday dates: Aug. 4-13
- General exempt items: Sunshine State
shoppers get more than a week in which they will owe no sales
tax on each item of clothing or book that sells for $50 or less.
Other school supplies must be priced at $10 or less to be purchased
without paying sales tax.
- Notable exceptions: Sales tax still
will be collected on books, clothing or school supplies purchased
within a theme park or similar entertainment complex.
More information is available on Florida's
sales-tax holiday.
|
