Don't Pay Taxes — and Remain Legal — on Back-to-School Purchases During Iowa's Sales Tax Holiday

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Original reporting by Deb Belt:

Get your shopping grove on. Iowa’s sales tax holiday starts at a minute after midnight Friday and continues through midnight Saturday.

That means businesses like Merle Hay Mall, Super Target, Kmart, and Kohl’s will be brimming with shoppers eager to save up to 6 percent on everything from shoes, socks and shirts to pants, pajamas and shirts.

Don’t forget small businesses, like B-Posh Boutique, Fashion by the Hall Tree, The Funky Zebras and others. Who did we miss?

During the tax-free holiday, sales tax will not be collected on essential back-to-school clothing and footwear purchases of less than $100 per item.

All businesses open on Aug. 2 and 3 are required to participate, though the holiday does not extend to Sunday.

The sales tax exemption doesn't include: watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, sporting equipment, skis, swim fins, roller blades, skates, and any special clothing or footwear designed primarily for athletic activity or protective use and not usually considered appropriate for everyday wear, says KCCI.com.

Sadly backpacks, a staple of back-to-school, are taxable, as are book bags.

The Iowa Department of Revenue says that if any item bought on the sales tax holiday is exchanged later, the buyer will not have to pay taxes on the new item.