Comments on: School Days, School Days, Spend A Lot of Money Days: School Sales Tax Holidays on the Way http://www.taxgirl.com/school-days-school-days-spend-a-lot-of-money-days-school-sales-tax-holidays-on-the-way/ tax news, tax info and tax policy Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:34:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Bill http://www.taxgirl.com/school-days-school-days-spend-a-lot-of-money-days-school-sales-tax-holidays-on-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4706 Bill Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:49:36 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/school-days-school-days-spend-a-lot-of-money-days-school-sales-tax-holidays-on-the-way/#comment-4706 When I was a student in Quebec, there was no sales tax on school supplies or books, astonishingly civilized, I thought, although I was shocked to find sales taxes on clothing, having grown up in New Jersey where there was no tax on clothes. In the 60s and 70s in NJ, we didn't need a tax holiday for back to school back, because the public schools I attended provided pencils, crayons, and paper to students, and there certainly wasn't a laundry list of expensive, highly specific stuff that parents were required to buy. The weird lined paper that you used when learning to write was provided by the school. It was cheap newsprint, and a sharp pencil would tear holes in it when you were trying to write, but at least it was "free". (And by "free" we all know that means our other taxes paid for it, but nonetheless, you didn't have to shell out a pile of money for a ridiculously explicit laundry list of supplies, on top of needing to buy clothes and shoes for constantly growing kids). But to answer the actual question, yes, even though I don't have kids, I do take advantage of the sales tax holiday in Texas where I've lived for a very long time. I need clothes and underwear like any other citizen that supports our schools with my other taxes, and I still don't think it's very civilized to tax necessities or educational supplies. When I was a student in Quebec, there was no sales tax on school supplies or books, astonishingly civilized, I thought, although I was shocked to find sales taxes on clothing, having grown up in New Jersey where there was no tax on clothes.

In the 60s and 70s in NJ, we didn’t need a tax holiday for back to school back, because the public schools I attended provided pencils, crayons, and paper to students, and there certainly wasn’t a laundry list of expensive, highly specific stuff that parents were required to buy. The weird lined paper that you used when learning to write was provided by the school. It was cheap newsprint, and a sharp pencil would tear holes in it when you were trying to write, but at least it was “free”. (And by “free” we all know that means our other taxes paid for it, but nonetheless, you didn’t have to shell out a pile of money for a ridiculously explicit laundry list of supplies, on top of needing to buy clothes and shoes for constantly growing kids).

But to answer the actual question, yes, even though I don’t have kids, I do take advantage of the sales tax holiday in Texas where I’ve lived for a very long time. I need clothes and underwear like any other citizen that supports our schools with my other taxes, and I still don’t think it’s very civilized to tax necessities or educational supplies.

]]> By: Laurie/Halo Secretarial http://www.taxgirl.com/school-days-school-days-spend-a-lot-of-money-days-school-sales-tax-holidays-on-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4705 Laurie/Halo Secretarial Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:50:18 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/school-days-school-days-spend-a-lot-of-money-days-school-sales-tax-holidays-on-the-way/#comment-4705 Thankfully I live in a province that has no sales tax, just our federal goods and services tax (5%). But if there were "tax-free" days you can bet those would be the days I'd do my school shopping! I only have one school-age child this year to shop for (grade one), but next year I'll have two, and a few years down the road all three boys will be in school and I'm sure that will be really pricey! Thankfully I live in a province that has no sales tax, just our federal goods and services tax (5%). But if there were “tax-free” days you can bet those would be the days I’d do my school shopping! I only have one school-age child this year to shop for (grade one), but next year I’ll have two, and a few years down the road all three boys will be in school and I’m sure that will be really pricey!

]]> By: Misha http://www.taxgirl.com/school-days-school-days-spend-a-lot-of-money-days-school-sales-tax-holidays-on-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4704 Misha Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:54:25 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/school-days-school-days-spend-a-lot-of-money-days-school-sales-tax-holidays-on-the-way/#comment-4704 Whether my state has a tax free Holiday or not doesn't mean a fig to me. (It does, Though) I think we pay way to much for clothes and supplies anyway. So I have found alternative methods. I have already bought all my sons clothes and shoes for back to school and his school, bundles packets with all his school supplies in them, it's usually about 32-35 bucks. I have tried shopping for individual pieces on the list, mostly I spend more time, money and energy then I'm willing to fork over. ( My son is autistic and I'm a grad student so I need all of the above in copious amounts) I hate shopping in crowds I hate groveling over a few dollars at a sale with a bunch of hysterical mothers and screaming kids. I shop at a discount store called NBC and I always pay way,way less then any body I know. I bought 400 dollars in school clothes and paid 89 dollars all quality brands. My kid will look great and I'm done shopping period!! Whether my state has a tax free Holiday or not doesn’t mean a fig to me. (It does, Though) I think we pay way to much for clothes and supplies anyway. So I have found alternative methods. I have already bought all my sons clothes and shoes for back to school and his school, bundles packets with all his school supplies in them, it’s usually about 32-35 bucks. I have tried shopping for individual pieces on the list, mostly I spend more time, money and energy then I’m willing to fork over. ( My son is autistic and I’m a grad student so I need all of the above in copious amounts) I hate shopping in crowds I hate groveling over a few dollars at a sale with a bunch of hysterical mothers and screaming kids. I shop at a discount store called NBC and I always pay way,way less then any body I know. I bought 400 dollars in school clothes and paid 89 dollars all quality brands. My kid will look great and I’m done shopping period!!

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