As summer nears its end and back-to-school season imminently approaches, Sales-Tax Holiday weekend is the perfect time to get your children’s essentials at a lower cost. From August 11th to the 13th, all purchases on back-to-school basics will be tax-free.
What is eligible during tax-free weekend?
A common misconception is that everything purchased during tax-free weekend is eligible for waived sales tax, but Texas law only exempts shoes, most clothing, backpacks and school supplies under $100.00 from sales and use taxes – meaning shoppers can save about $8.00 on every $100.00 they spend.
You can even take advantage of the sales tax holiday by participating in layaway plans. The Texas Comptroller breaks down the “fine print”:
- Layaways- a sale of a qualifying item under a layaway plan qualifies for exemption if the customer places the qualifying merchandise on layaway during the holiday or makes the final payment during the holiday.
- Rainchecks- eligible items that customers purchase during the holiday with use of a rain check qualify for the exemption regardless of when the rain check was issued. However, issuance of a rain check by a seller during the holiday period will not qualify an eligible item for the exemption if the item is actually purchased after the holiday is over even if the rain check is presented at the time of purchase.
For more information on exactly what is going to be tax-free, you may reference the Comptroller’s rules by clicking here.
What are some good ways to prep for the weekend?
Have a game plan! Below is a checklist you can follow to have a safe, efficient and successful tax-free weekend.
- Know what you are looking for BEFORE going into stores
- Use this time to stock-up on items that your children might need in the future
- Check your child’s school supply list and uniform requirements BEFORE entering the store
- Check online inventory to see whether or not your local store has your items in stock
- Compare prices online and use coupons to rack up additional savings
- Bring a friend (especially if you plan on bringing the kiddos) to help with the shopping
- Keep calm and take advantage of the deals for the entire weekend
- Don’t be afraid to call it quits
What if I don’t need school supplies?
Most school districts welcome donations to assist teachers with their school supplies. In fact, the average U.S. teacher spends more than $500 on their classrooms a year. This weekend is a great time to stock-up on pencils, crayons, markers, binders, paper and more to help the community and support deserving students.
Make sure to stop by Alliance Town Center to take advantage of tax-free weekend at some of your favorite places to shop! From kids’ clothes to endless shoe options, we have everyone in your family covered! A complete list of our stores is here.
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