Don't Mess With Taxes

Shopping is even more fun when you also get some sales tax holiday savings. (Photo by Andrea Piacquadio)

The theme for many state sales tax holidays this year is go long. On July 1, three states kicked off sales tax break periods that run at least one year.

But four states are sticking to the usual, and shorter, time frame for their annual sales tax holidays this month.

Alabama kicks off these more traditional back-to-school tax holidays this weekend. From Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17, Yellowhammer State shoppers will see the state's sales tax waived on purchases of clothing that are $100 or less, books bought for $30 or less, school supplies sold at $50 or less, and computers and software priced at $750 or less.

Alabama counties and municipalities also can decide whether to participate and exempt their taxes, or continue to add the amounts to sales during the tax holiday period. Check out this list so see if you'll get the additional tax break where you shop.

Three more states later: Several other Southern states also will board the back-to-school sales tax train in July.

Mississippi's weekend tax holiday starts on Friday, July 29, and runs through Saturday, July 30. Clothing and footwear costing $100 or less qualify for the Magnolia State's no-tax treatment.

Tennessee's school supplies and more tax holiday also starts on Friday, July 29, and runs through Sunday, July 31. Volunteer State shoppers during these three days who buy clothing priced at $100 or less, school supplies for $100 or less, and computers costing $1,500 or less won't owe the state's sales tax on the products.

Then there's Florida, which has taken to heart the rewarding of shoppers with longer tax holiday periods.

Take it's back-to-school tax holiday. The Sunshine State's no-sales-tax event runs for a week, starting on Monday, July 25, and running through Sunday, Aug. 7. During those seven days, Florida shoppers won't pay sales tax on clothing priced at $100 or less, school supplies tagged $50 or less, learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less, and computers and certain accessories costing $1,500 or less.

More time, more tax savings in Florida: But a week is nothing on the Florida sales tax calendar. As mentioned, the peninsula is the leader of the longer is better trend, instituting four extended tax-break periods that began on July 1.

Three of the Sunshine State's longer tax holidays run for a year. The 12-month sales tax holidays — for baby and toddler clothing, children's diapers, and Energy Star appliances — started on the first day of July and sales tax is waived on qualifying products through June 30, 2023.

July 1 also was the kickoff for Florida's even-longer sales tax holiday on home hardening products, such as impact resistant doors, windows, and garage doors that can withstand tropical storm and hurricane winds. That home improvement sales tax break period runs through June 30, 2024.

More long-term tax holidays elsewhere: Not to be outdone, two other states also have enacted year-long tax holidays that began with the arrival of July.

Illinois officials have eliminated the state's food tax for a year. In technical tax language, the state lowered its 1 percent sales tax on groceries to 0 percent from July 1 through June 30, 2023. This no-tax breaks for Hoosier grocery shoppers applies to food that is to be eaten off premises, that is, the comestibles you take home in plastic, paper, or reusable tote bags.

Tennessee also has an extended tax holiday aimed at responsible firearm owners, which originally was enacted on July 1, 2021. The Volunteer State's sales tax now is suspended for one additional year, through June 30, 2023, on all retail sales of gun safes and gun safety devices.

More tax holidays later: These hot summer tax savings are just the beginning of the annual back-to-school tax holidays. Many more are on the way in August or later as the official start of the school year in those locations nears.

You can find the full list of the 2022 sales tax holidays in my earlier post with details on the 19 states holding sales tax holidays this year.

You also might find these items of interest:

• Tax holidays are popular, but bad tax policy
• 6 shopping tips to maximize sales tax holiday savings
• City and other local taxes add to overall sales tax takes
• 5 sales-tax-free states are perfect places to shop year-round

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