Tax Free Weekend for School Shopping

State sales tax holidays for 2009 start now!
Tom Barlow
Jul 29th 2009 at 1:00PM Filed under: Shopping, Tax, School

Each year, some U.S. states hold tax holidays -- short periods where state sales taxed are waived on selected items. Most often, these items are school-related, and the tax holiday is timed for school-shopping season. For example, Missourians can spend up to $3,500 on computers on August 7-9 and pay no sales tax on the purchase, a potential savings of almost $148.

Other states use the tax holidays to entice residents to trade in their appliances for more efficient energy star models, or prepare for natural disasters such as hurricanes. Louisiana has the least restrictive holiday, waiving taxes on all non-business personal items up to $2,500 on August 7-8. The most unusual holiday? South Carolina's, which celebrates the start of winter hunting season with a two-day tax waiver on rifles, shotguns, and shotguns.

This year, many states are struggling to meet their budgets, and some have debated ending tax holidays. Washington, D.C. canceled its planned August tax holiday just a few weeks ago. We'll update our chart as quickly as possible in such an event, so check back before heading to the mall. Good hunting!


2009*
Dates

Information Links *
Alabama
clothing - $100
computers - $750
school supplies - $50
books - $30
August 7-9
http://www.ador.state.al.us/salestax/SalesTaxHol.htm

Connecticut
clothing and footwear - $300
August 16-22
http://www.ct.gov/

District of Columbia
clothing - $100
school supplies -  $100
August 1-9
http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/
Repealed

District of Columbia
clothing - $100
Nov. 27 - Dec. 6
http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/

Georgia
school supplies - $20
clothing - $100
computer - $1,500
July 30 - Aug. 2
 
Georgia
 
energy and water efficient products - $1,500
October 1-4
 
Iowa
clothing - $100
August 7-8
http://www.iowaccess.org/tax/

Louisiana
all TPP - $2,500
August 7-8
http://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/

Louisiana
hurricane preparedness items - $1,500
May 30-31
http://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/

Mississippi
clothing & footwear - $100
July 31-August 1


Missouri
energy star products - $1,500
2009
April 19-25
http://www.dor.mo.gov/tax/

Missouri
clothing - $100
computers - $3,500
school supplies - $50
August 7-9
http://www.dor.mo.gov/tax/


New Mexico
clothing - $100
computers - $1,000
school supplies - $15
August 7-9
http://www.state.nm.us/tax/


North Carolina
clothing - $100
school supplies - $100
instructional material - $300
computers - $3,500
other comp. - $250
sports equip - $50
August 7-9
http://www.dornc.com/


North Carolina
energy star products
November 6-8
http://www.dornc.com/


Oklahoma
clothing - $100
August 7-9
http://www.tax.ok.gov/


South Carolina
clothing
school supplies
computers
other
August 7-9
http://www.sctax.org/

South Carolina
energy star products
October 1-31**
Ruled unconstitutional by State Supreme Court, May 4

South Carolina
handguns, rifles, shotguns
November 27-28
http://www.sctax.org/



Tennessee
clothing - $100
school supplies - $100
computers - $1,500
August 7-9
http://tn.gov/revenue/


Texas
clothing, backpacks and school supplies- $100
August 21-23
http://www.window.state.tx.us/

Texas
energy star products
air conditioners - $6,000; other - $2,000
May 23-25
http://www.window.state.tx.us/



Vermont
Personal Purchase - $2,000
August 22
http://www.state.vt.us/tax/2009sth.shtml


Virginia
hurricane preparedness items - $60
generators - $1,000
May 25-31
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/

Virginia
clothing - $100
school supplies - $20
August 7-9
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/

Virginia
energy star products - $2,500
October 9-12
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/


West Virginia
energy star products - $5,000
September 1 - November 30
http://www.wvtax.gov/

(updated
July 27, 2009)

* dates are for calendar year 2009, as of March 19, 2009. Some state have not published 2009 information on their website; old information may be provided in the links for these states.

** Holiday will only be allowed in years where the South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors certifies sufficient revenue growth.


Thanks to the Federation of Tax Administrators
Each state makes its own decision about what does or does not qualify for this program, so if in doubt check your state's tax web site for clarification. As an example, here is part of North Carolina's list:

In these days when every penny counts, how can you pass up a chance to beat the state sales tax? Time to stock up!

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