BBB Tips Can Help You Get The Most From Sales Tax Holiday

If you're heading out to stock up on clothing and school supplies during this weekend's sales tax holiday, the Better Business Bureau advises shoppers to do their homework before heading to the stores.

For instance, check which items are eligible before heading out to shop. In general, they are:

• Clothing: any article having a taxable value of $100 or less.
• School supplies, not to exceed $50 per purchase.
• Computer software with a taxable value of $350 or less.
• Personal computers valued at $3,500 or less.
• Computer peripherals valued at $3,500 or less.

A full list of eligible and ineligible items is available at the Department of Revenue website.

In general, the sales tax holiday is available to any individual who purchases items for personal use, regardless of whether they are used for school. However, businesses who buy items such as computers for their company use are not eligible for the sales tax exemption.

Teachers may buy items for their classrooms without paying the tax if they are using their own funds, according to the Department of Revenue website.

The sales tax holiday applies to online purchases or to items that are ordered but not delivered during the tax holiday period, as long as payment is made within that period. The payment must be completed in full during the sales tax holiday period.

The BBB advises shoppers to check out each merchant’s BBB Business Review at www.bbb.org or by calling 314-645-3300.

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