SHOPPERS in a major US state will get extra time to enjoy a tax holiday, as 17 states give Americans money off essentials.
The sales tax on certain items will only be removed for a limited time, so it’s important to act quickly.
Shoppers in a major US state will get extra time to enjoy a tax holiday, as 17 states give Americans money off essentials[/caption]
Those in the state of Ohio will be getting sales tax waived on seven different shopping departments, including electronics and home goods.
Every item has a spending limit of $500, so if you spend more than that on any particular product, the sales tax will not be removed.
The sales tax holiday begins at midnight on August 1 and lasts through 11:59 p.m. on August 14.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said: “The timing of this year’s sales tax holiday not only supports families preparing for back-to-school, but also provides relief on other important household needs.”
As part of the holiday, seven main shopping departments have seen sales tax waived.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Electronics, including computers, televisions and other gadgets
- All clothing
- All books, including novels and textbooks
- Home goods like furniture, kitchenware and home décor
- Plants, both indoor and outdoor plants
- Sporting goods equipment and apparel
- Food and beverages, including dine-in, dietary supplements and soft drinks
It is also important to note that online purchases from retailers like Amazon are included if they meet the criteria.
Amazon may still add tax on items if they do not qualify for the holiday.
This would happen if the items exceeded the purchase limit, but would also apply to orders placed before the holiday starts.
But some items have been excluded from the sales tax holiday.
These are mostly things like tobacco, alcohol and items containing marijuana.
However, a few notable mentions on that list include watercraft or outboard motors, as well as cars and other motor vehicles.
OTHER STATES
In total, 17 states in the US have either held a sales tax holiday or are about to this month.
States removing sales tax
Alabama
July 18-20
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item
Computers: $750 or less per item
School supplies: $50 or less per item
Books: $30 or less per item
Arkansas
Aug. 2-3
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item, clothing accessories: $50 or less per item
School supplies
Electronic devices used for school
Connecticut
Aug. 17-23 (Always the third Sunday in August to the following Saturday)
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and footwear less than $100
Florida
Florida expanded its back-to-school sales tax holiday to include the whole month of August.
Aug. 1-31
What’s tax-free:
School supplies: $50 or less per item
Clothing, footwear, accessories: $100 or less per item
Computers and related accessories: $1,500 or less
Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles: $30 or less
Iowa
Aug. 1-2
What’s tax-free:
Clothing or footwear: $100 or less per item
Maryland
Aug. 10-16 (Always the second week of August)
What’s tax-free:
Clothing, footwear and accessories: $100 or less per item
Backpacks: the first $40 of a backpack/bookbag purchase is tax-free.
Massachusetts
Aug 9-10
Eligible retail items bought for personal use costing $2,500 or less (not limited to school supplies).
There are several exceptions when tax still applies, including: meals, motor vehicles and boats, gas and electricity, tobacco, marijuana or alcoholic beverages and any single item with a price more than $2,500.
Mississippi
July 11-13
What’s tax-free:
Clothing, and footwear: $100 or less per item
School supplies: $100 or less per item
Missouri
Aug. 1-3
What’s tax-free:
Clothing: $100 or less per item
School supplies: $50 or less per item
Computers: $1,500
Computer software: $350 or less
Computer peripheral devices: $1,500
Graphic calculators: $150 or less
New Mexico
July 25-27
What’s tax-free:
Clothing or shoes: $100 or less per item
Desktop, laptop, tablets or notebook computers: $1,000
Related computer hardware: $500 per item
School supplies: $30 per item
New York
New York does not have a sales tax holiday, but year-round in certain counties, including the county that covers New York City, have no sales tax for clothing and footwear worn by humans that is $110 or less.
Ohio
Aug. 1-14
What’s tax-free:
The tax-free period includes anything that is considered tangible personal property that is $500 or less.
This excludes watercrafts, anything with an outboard motor that must be titled, a motor vehicle, alcohol, tobacco, a vapor product or a product that contains marijuana.
Dine-in meals, which are usually taxed, are also tax-free if they are less than $500.
Oklahoma
Aug. 1-3
What’s tax-free:
Clothing or footwear: $100 or less per item.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania does not have a sales-tax holiday, but year-round it does not charge sales tax for clothing and certain footwear.
South Carolina
Aug. 1-3
What’s tax-free:
Clothing, shoes and accessories
School supplies
Computers, printers, earbuds and headphones
Certain bed and bath items
Diapers
Tennessee
July 25-27
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item
School supplies: $100 or less per item
Computers, including laptops and tablets: $1,500 or less per item
Texas
Aug. 8-10
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item
Backpacks: $100 or less per item
School supplies: $100 or less per item
Virginia
Aug. 1-3
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item
School supplies: $20 or less per item
West Virginia
Aug. 1-4
What’s tax-free:
Clothing: $125 or less per item
Laptop or tablet computers: $500 or less per item
School instruction material: $20 or less per item
School supplies: $50 or less per item
Sports equipment: $150 or less per item
Mississippi became the first state to do it, waiving tax on products like clothing, footwear and school supplies.
Katherine Cullen, National Retail Federation vice president of industry and consumer insights, told USA Today: “Customers and retailers alike enjoy the benefits of sales tax holidays.
“These tax-free events can help drive customers to stores, and result in increased sales because customers may purchase additional items that they were not shopping for that day.”
Notably, some states do not charge sales tax at all to shoppers throughout the year.
You will not be charged sales tax at all in Alaska, Montana, Delaware, Oregon or in New Hampshire.
For those in Ohio, they must shop during the tight window to make the savings.
