by Alison Storm | 08/3/10
If you live in one of the following 16 states-- you've got a special holiday coming. It's a tax-free holiday. Designed to help cut down back-to-school shopping expenses, this can be a great time to buy clothing, shoes, computers, and lots of other household essentials. Here are the details for the participating states:
• Alabama: On Aug. 6-8, Pick up clothing with a sales price of $100 or less per item; single purchases, with a sales price of $750 or less, of computers, computer software, school computer equipment; noncommercial purchases of school supplies, school art supplies and school instructional materials with sales price of $50 or less per item; noncommercial book purchases with sales price of $30 or less per book are exempt from tax. You'll still have to pay tax on clothing accessories or protective or recreational equipment.
• Connecticut: On Aug. 15-21, During this six-day span, purchase clothing and footwear costing less than $300 per item to avoid paying tax. The discount does not include accessories or athletic or protective clothing.
• Florida: On Aug. 13-15, you won't pay tax on books, clothing, wallets or bags (including handbags, backpacks, fanny packs and diaper bags) with a sales price of $50 or less per item; and school supplies with a sales price of $10 or less per item. Briefcases, suitcases and other garment bags are not included. This also does not apply to sales made within a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.
• Illinois: On Aug. 6-15, footwear and clothing with a sales price of less than $100 per item and school supplies will be exempt from sales tax during this period.
• Iowa: On Aug. 6-7, you'll be able to purchase clothing and footwear with sales price of less than $100 per item without paying tax. This does not include accessories, rentals, athletic or protective clothing.
• Louisiana: On Aug. 6-7, the first $2,500 of sales price of noncommercial purchases (not leases) of items of tangible personal property (not vehicles or meals) is exempt from sales tax. The holiday does not apply to local taxes (may be allowed in St. Charles Parish).
• Maryland: On Aug. 8-14, you won't pay tax on clothing and footwear with a taxable price of $100 or less per item. This does not include accessories.
• Mississippi: On July 30-31, be sure to pick up clothing and footwear with sales price under $100 per item if you want to avoid paying sales tax. But keep in mind, this does not include accessories, rentals, skis, swim fins or skates.
• Missouri: On Aug. 6-8, you won't pay sales tax on noncommercial purchases of clothing (but not accessories) with taxable value of $100 or less per item; school supplies up to $50 per purchase; computer software with taxable value of $350 or less; computers and computer peripherals up to $3,500.
• New Mexico: On Aug. 6-8, don't pay sales tax on footwear and clothing with sales price of less than $100 per item; school supplies; computers with sales price of $1,000 or less per item; and computer peripherals with sales price of $500 or less per item. Keep in mind that retailers are not required to participate and that this does not include accessories, athletic or protective clothing.
• North Carolina: On Aug. 6-8, clothing and school supplies with sales price of $100 or less per item; school instructional materials with sales price of $300 or less per item; sport/recreational equipment with sales price of $50 or less per item; computers with sales price of $3,500 or less; and computer supplies with sales price of $250 or less per item are exempt. The holiday does not include clothing accessories or protective equipment.
• Oklahoma: On Aug. 6-8, clothing and footwear with sales price of less than $100 are exempt. The Oklahoma sales tax holiday does not include accessories, athletic or protective clothing or rentals.
• South Carolina: On Aug. 6-8, you don't pay sales tax on clothing (but not rentals), clothing accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers, printers, printer supplies, computer software, bath wash clothes, bed linens, pillows, bath towels, shower curtains and bath rugs.
• Tennessee: On Aug. 6-8, clothing (but not accessories), school supplies and school art supplies with sales price of $100 or less per item and computers with sales price of $1,500 or less per item are exempt from sales tax.
• Texas: On Aug. 20-22, Texans can avoid paying sales tax on clothing, footwear and school backpacks with sales price of less than $100 per item . However, this does not include accessories, athletic or protective clothing or rentals.
• Virginia: On Aug. 6-8, clothing and footwear with a selling price of $100 or less per item; and school supplies with a selling price of $20 or less per item are exempt from sales tax.