Sales Tax Holiday starts Friday

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August 19, 2010

Anonymous Associated Press Thu Aug 19, 2010, 02:30 PM CDT

AUSTIN — Schoolchildren will soon head back to the classroom; and Texas’ annual Sales Tax Holiday will help outfit kids with tax-free clothes, shoes and school supplies they need for the new school year.

“From Aug. 20-22, shoppers will pay no state or local sales tax on many school supplies, school backpacks and most children’s and adults’ clothing and shoes priced at less than $100,” Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said. “As our economy continues to recover, this tax break will help families get more bang for their back-to-school bucks.”

This year, Combs predicts shoppers will save $59.3 million in state and local sales taxes during the Sales Tax Holiday, which takes place each year on the third Friday, Saturday and Sunday in August.

The tax holiday weekend has been an annual event since 1999.

As in previous years, the law exempts most clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend.

Backpacks under $100 and used by elementary and secondary students are also exempt. The exemption during the sales tax holiday includes backpacks with wheels, provided they can also be worn on the back like a traditional backpack, and messenger bags.

The exemption does not include items that are reasonably defined as luggage, briefcases, athletic/duffle/gym bags, computer bags, purses or framed backpacks. Ten or fewer backpacks can be purchased tax-free at one time without providing an exemption certificate to the seller.

The 81st Texas Legislature passed HB 1801 (2009) expanding the list of items qualifying for exemption from Texas state and local sales and use taxes during the annual sales tax holiday in August. Effective this year, in addition to clothes, footwear and some backpacks, Texas families also get a sales tax break on most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school.

The following is an all-inclusive list of qualifying school supplies (if priced less than $100):

• Binders

• Book bags

• Calculators

• Cellophane tape

• Blackboard chalk

• Compasses

• Composition books

• Crayons

• Erasers

• Folders; expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila

• Glue, paste and paste sticks

• Highlighters

• Index cards

• Index card boxes

• Legal pads

• Lunch boxes

• Markers

• Notebooks

• Paper; loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper

• Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes

• Pencil sharpeners

• Pencils

• Pens

• Protractors

• Rulers

• Scissors

• Writing tablets

Tax free clothing and footwear and backpacks Include:

• Baby clothes

• Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students

• Belts with attached buckles

• Boots - cowboy, hiking

• Caps/hats - baseball, fishing, golf, knitted

• Coats and wraps

• Diapers - adult and baby

• Dresses

• Gloves (generally)

• Gym suits and uniforms

• Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts

• Hosiery

• Jackets

• Jeans

• Jerseys - baseball and football

• Jogging apparel

• Neckwear and ties

• Pajamas

• Pants and trousers

• Raincoats and ponchos

• Robes

• Shirts

• Shoes - sandals, slippers, sneakers, tennis, walking

• Socks (including athletic)

• Shorts

• Suits, slacks, and jackets

• Sweatshirts

• Sweat suits

• Sweaters

• Swimsuits

• Underclothes

• Work clothes and uniforms

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