State Sales Tax Holidays

Eleven different states (plus the District of Columbia) will be offering sales tax holidays in the coming weeks as shoppers stock up on back-to-school items. Note that the tax-exemption applies mainly to things like non-luxury clothing, books, school supplies, and sometimes computers. This is a great deal for those of you who can take advantage of it! Read on for the full list of states and dates, as well as details about what’s included in each locale…

Connecticut, August 21-27
Shoes and clothes that sell for $300 and less. The tax break does not apply to athletic or protective clothing and footwear, jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets and watches.

District of Columbia, August 6-14
School supplies, clothing, accessories and shoes with a price of $100 or less are covered.

Florida, July 23-31
Books, clothing, footwear and certain accessories with a sales price of $50 or less per item, and school supplies with a sales price of $10 or less per item. The exemption does not apply to purchases within an entertainment complex, a theme park an airport or a public lodging establishment.

Georgia, July 28-31
Certain school supplies, (up to $20 per item), clothing and footwear ($100 or less per article), computers and computer-related accessories for noncommercial use (for a single purchase of $1,500 or less).

Iowa, August 5-6
During the holiday, no sales tax, including school and local option sales taxes, will be collected on clothing or footwear that sells for $100 or less per item. Certain accessories are excluded.

Massachusetts, August 13-14
All non-business sales on a single item costing $2,500 or less are covered. Automobiles, boats, telecommunication items, meals, utilities and tobacco are not covered.

Missouri, August 5-7
Clothing and footwear except for certain accessories that are priced at $100 or less, school supplies costing $50 or less, computer software with a taxable value of $350 or less, and personal computers and computer peripherals that retail for $3,500 or less. The holiday does not apply to sales within the state fairgrounds.

New Mexico, August 5-7
Clothing or shoes sold for less than $100 (excluding items primarily for athletic or protective use); computers (but not handheld computers) sold for no more than $1,000, and any associated monitor, speakers, printer or related items sold for no more than $500; notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, paper clips, staples, staplers, scissors and rulers priced under $15; and bookbags, backpacks, handheld calculators, maps and globes priced under $100.

New York, August 30-September 5
Clothing and footwear, as well as items that are used to make or repair clothing, that cost under $110 per item are exempt from state and certain local taxes.

North Carolina, August 5-7
Clothing, footwear and school supplies are exempt from taxes with a price tag of $50 or less, sports equipment that costs under $50, and computers for $3,500 or less. Clothing accessories, protective equipment and rentals do not qualify.

South Carolina, August 5-7
Clothing, accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers, printers, printer supplies, computer software and linens for the bed and bath are exempt. Jewelry, cosmetics and furniture, are not.

Texas, August 5-7
Most clothing and footwear priced at less than $100 are exempt from state and local sales taxes. Athletic clothing and footwear are ineligible for the exemption. Accessories, such as watches and jewelry, also are excluded from the holiday.

Note that Vermont and West Virginia, which offered this sort of break last year, are no longer on the list. Also, Maryland and Tennessee are not currently on the list, but plan a sales tax holiday for 2006.

[Source: CNN/Money]