Maryland Sales Tax Holiday Week 2019: What's Included

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Family vacations are in full swing, trips to the shore are under way, and nobody is ready to go back to school yet. But it's time to make a list of all the clothes, shoes, backpacks and other supplies your kids will need, because Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week starts on Aug. 11. Along with sales tax waived on everything from jeans and shorts to shoes and dresses, along with diapers and baby clothes, part of the sales price of a backpack is also tax-free during the week.

This year's Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week runs from Sunday, Aug. 11, through Saturday, Aug. 17, 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.)

Even though the Maryland tax holiday falls during the back-to-school rush, there are some school-related items that aren’t included in the list of exempt purchases. The folks at Offers.com suggest parents make the most of tax-free shopping by remembering a few tips:

• Steer clear of taxable lunchboxes, textbooks and school supplies, unless they’re on sale. Focus your spending on non-taxable clothing and shoes instead.
• Stock up on diapers and baby clothes now, if you need them – you’re going to use them later.
• No rainchecks accepted — if you buy an item after tax-free week using a raincheck, you’ll still owe tax on that item.
• Shop for the whole family. Though it’s a great time to pick up fall and winter items for the kids, the tax holiday also extends to adults.

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 next 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.

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.

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.

Courtesy Maryland Comptroller's Office