I’m a terrible procrastinator. At least that’s what the retail world thinks. I totally admit that I’m one of those parents who expects to actually find school supplies on the shelves in September. And for some crazy reason, I feel like I should be able to buy fall jackets when it’s cool out and not on days when the temperature is expected to climb over 100 degrees.
Apparently, I’m the exception to the rule.
For those of you who are super shoppers – and manage to buy school supplies before school actually starts – you may be able to benefit from a number of back to school related sales tax holidays this summer. Here’s the list as it appears right now:
Alabama (downloads as pdf)
August 5-7, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing – $100
computers, computer software and school computer supplies – $750
school supplies and school art supplies – $50
books – $30
Arkansas (downloads as pdf)
August 6-7, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear – $100
clothing accessories – $50
school supplies and school art supplies
Connecticut
August 21-27, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear – $300
Florida (downloads as pdf)
August 12-14, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing – $75
school supplies – $15
Iowa
August 5-6, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear – $100
Louisiana
August 5-6, 2011
Exempt items:
Almost everything (!) except services and leases – $2,500
Maryland
August 14-20, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing & footwear – $100
Mississippi
July 29-30, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing & footwear – $100
Missouri
August 5-7,2011
Exempt items:
clothing – $100
school supplies – $50
computer software – $350
computers and peripheral devices – $3,500
New Mexico
August 5-7, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear – $100
desktop, laptop or notebook computers – $1,000
computer hardware – $500
school supplies – $15
North Carolina
August 5-7, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear – $100
school supplies – $100
sports and recreation equipment – $50
computers – $3,500
computer supplies – $250
reference books, textbooks and workbooks – $300
Oklahoma
August 5-7, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear – $100
South Carolina (downloads as pdf)
August 5-7, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear
school supplies
books
bookbags and lunchboxes
computers, printers and software
dorm-related expenses such as towels, comforters, linens and pillows
Tennessee
August 5-7, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear – $100
school supplies – $100
computers – $1,500
Texas
August 19-21, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear – $100
school supplies, bookbags and lunchboxes – $100
Virginia
August 5-7, 2011
Exempt items:
clothing and footwear – $100
school supplies – $20
Please remember that all kinds of exceptions exist (this is tax, right?) so be sure and check with your specific state’s web site if you have questions. In addition, some local taxes may still apply.
You’ll note that not all states are offering sales tax holidays this year. North Dakota and Illinois affirmatively voted to drop sales tax holidays while efforts to push a sales tax holiday through in states like Georgia, Indiana, Kansas and Rhode Island seem to have floundered. Massachusetts is still making up its mind – they’re hoping to have one in place come August (um, guys, August is in 9 days).
Not all states needed to pass a special exemption. Keep in mind that clothing is not taxed at any time during the year in Pennsylvania and Minnesota while New York recently rolled back its sales tax on clothing and footwear under $55 (like that even exists in New York). And of course, remember that Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, Montana and Oregon are always sales tax free.
Finally, Louisiana and South Carolina also offer sales tax holidays for the purchase of guns, too, but I’d like to think that you won’t need those for school.
