Some local stores offer tax-free savings on all items
If you hate paying sales tax, this is your weekend.
The state’s spring sales tax holiday is currently under way and it will last until 11:59 p.m. this Sunday.
Dozens of clothing and school-related items under $100 can be purchased without sales tax, in addition to computers that cost $1,500 or less.
Clothing exempt from sales tax includes jeans, shirts, shoes, socks, jackets, dresses, and belts.
School supplies exempt from sales tax includes backpacks, crayons, paper, pencils, rulers, writing tablets, and pencil sharpeners.
Computers and laptop computers are exempt from sales tax provided they cost under $1,500. The computers, like all tax-free merchandise, don’t have to be purchased for students. The tax-free savings are for everyone.
Goody’s shoppers won’t have to worry about which items are tax-free and which ones aren’t. Store manager Susan Hutcheson says everything at Goody’s is tax free this weekend.
‘It gets kind of complicated on what the state allows and doesn’t allow,’ said Hutcheson. ‘So nothing in the store will be taxed this weekend. If the state doesn’t pay it, Goody’s will.’
Factory Connection at Northgate Shopping Center has the same policy.
‘There are no exceptions. Everything in the store is tax free,’ said Factory Connection assistant manager Sandra Roberts. ‘We have a few other sales going on right now and we’ll be honoring those sales too. So we’re expecting a big weekend. We’re going to be open from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday just for this.’
Hutcheson says she’s preparing for Christmas holiday type crowds this weekend.
‘This will give people a chance to offset the high prices at the grocery store and the gas station,’ Hutcheson said. ‘We think this will be a great boost for business.’
Considering Tennessee’s suddenly rocky economic outlook, a tax-free weekend next spring is in doubt. Gov. Phil Bredesen projected on Wednesday the state will face about a $500 million shortfall for the next budget year.
Revenue Department spokeswoman Sara Houghland says, while neither state nor local option sales taxes will be collected this weekend, the state reimburses local governments for the amount they would have otherwise received.
To view an updated list of exempt items or other useful material, please visit www.tntaxholiday.com.