Maryland Sales Tax-Free Shopping Week 2018 Scholarships Available

ANNAPOLIS, MD — It's time to start making a list of all the clothes, shoes, backpacks and other supplies your kids will need, because the dates for Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week are nearly here. Along with sales tax waived on everything from jeans and shorts to shoes and dresses, part of the sales price of a backpack is also tax-free during the special week. And, shoppers can earn another benefit: A scholarship to any Maryland university, college or trade school if their photo of a Maryland spirit is entered in a contest via social media.

This year's Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week runs from Sunday, Aug. 12, through Saturday, Aug. 18, says the Maryland comptroller's office. That means qualifying clothing and footwear sold for $100 or less, per item, is exempt from the 6 percent state sales tax. Accessory items are not included, with the exception of backpacks, a staple of student life; the first $40 toward the cost of a backpack or bookbag is also tax-free.

The state has a detailed list of what is taxable and what is exempt from Maryland's sales tax that week. (See full list at bottom of story.)

While school uniforms, shirts, shoes, flip-flops, athletic socks, caps and hats, bathing suits, gloves, mittens and underwear are tax exempt, you might be surprised that pajamas, cloth diapers and bathrobes are also exempt that week. Many medical items such as adult diapers and braces are exempt, along with golf clothes, bowling shoes and shirts, martial arts uniforms and sports uniforms.

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Other items on many back-to-school shopping lists — sports cleats, baseball and lacrosse gloves, and football and lacrosse shoulder pads — all remain taxable that week.

Comptroller Peter Franchot joined with the Maryland Retailers Association Monday to announce a social media contest during Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week in which two winners will receive $2,500 and $1,000 scholarships, respectively, to any Maryland university, college or trade school.

Leading up to and during the annual Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week, shoppers should like or follow the official social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Then snap a picture or take a video that incorporates the theme of "Maryland" (the state colors, school apparel, sports team, a crab, etc.), write a creative caption and use #shopmdtaxfree during Tax-Free Week to submit an entry on any or all of the social media platforms.

The retailers group, which is providing the scholarships, will select the two entries at the end of the week that best reflect the spirit of Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week.

"The State of Maryland loses money during Tax-Free Week, but it's a big win for locally-owned businesses and for shoppers," said Franchot in a news release. "This will be the easiest scholarship Maryland college students will ever have the chance to win. There's no application, no essay and no interview – just shop tax-free."

"Tax-Free Week provides a much-needed boost to brick-and-mortar retailers in our state, and we encourage all consumers to support their local businesses," said Cailey Locklair Tolle, MRA president. "This year we are again thrilled to help promote shopping local and Tax-Free Week by offering scholarships to our contest winners."

According to the state comptroller, the Maryland legislature established the tax-free week as an annual observance from the second Sunday of the month to the subsequent Saturday.

For more information, call 800-MD-TAXES, (410) 260-7980 from central Maryland, e-mail shopmaryland@comp.state.md.us, or visit the comptroller's website to read the full list.

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