Back-to-school sales tax holiday to save Texans money

Local News

August 16, 2010

The San Marcos Record Mon Aug 16, 2010, 07:05 AM CDT

— Texas' annual back-to-school sales tax holiday weekend began in 1999, and this year the big savings weekend will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20, 21 and 22.

Shoppers who wait to buy during that weekend will be able to avoid paying state and local sales and use taxes on almost all back-to-school needs.

Parents may remember that last year the 81st Legislature passed a bill that expanded the list of items qualifying for exemptions.

In addition to clothes, shoes and some backpacks, shoppers also will receive a sales tax break on school supplies priced at less than $100 and purchased 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 and writing tablets.

As for clothing, footwear and backpacks, the following is a list of those items that may be purchased sales and use tax free Aug. 20, 21 and 22 if priced less than $100:

Baby clothes, backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students, belts with attached buckles, boots (cowboy and 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, jackets, sweatshirts, sweat suits, sweaters, swimsuits, underclothes, work clothes and uniforms.

State Comptroller Susan Combs estimates the holiday tax break on school supplies will save families nearly $9 million in state and local sales taxes this year.

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