How to Shop Tax Free
Shoppers in many states find that purchases have an added sales tax at the register, and in some states that tax is as high as 7.25 percent. Smart shoppers need only a little patience and a bit of research to find tax free shopping, whether it is found online or via a drive over the state's border.
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Instructions
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Save Money With Tax Free Shopping
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Look up your state's current sales tax percentage, as well as the sales tax rates of surrounding states. These rates vary from state to state and in some states are only added to certain types of purchases. For example, Massachusetts does not place sales tax on clothing or food.
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Visit a duty free shop when traveling. These retail outlets sell anything from perfume to alcohol and are often found in international airports and other areas frequented by international travelers. They do not add any local or international taxes onto their goods.
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Be aware of any upcoming tax free holidays your state may hold. States or some major cities will allow shoppers a day or even a weekend to shop tax free. These tax free shopping days often provide a major boost to retailers' revenues and rival that of Christmas sales. These holidays generally exclude certain major purchases--such as cars and electronics--from the tax lift.
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Take advantage of organizations that help international travelers shop tax free, like the Global Refund Group. This organization has set up a program allowing shoppers to receive cash refunds of the taxes spent on items in stores that post the Global Refund sign. Refunds are provided if receipts are saved and their Global Refund Cheques are validated at customs (see Resources below).
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Log on to websites such as Tax Free Shopping that allow shoppers to purchase without the burden of sales tax. This website combines items from a variety of stores, often international, allowing those at home to reap the benefits of tax free shopping opportunities overseas (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
The only states without sales tax are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. California, New Jersey, Mississippi and Tennessee are a few of the states with the highest sales tax percentages.
When traveling, be sure to research the taxes the state or country imposes to avoid any surprises in the checkout line.
