How to Save Money on School Supplies During Tax-Free Holidays

Save money on back to school supplies during tax-free holidays. There are many states that offer a tax-free holiday to entice people to go shopping. Back to school shopping can be strenuous on a family’s budget. Here are ways to be prepared for saving as much money as you can on school supplies during the tax-free holiday, states offering the holiday, and the dates.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Know what is tax free in participating states.
• Be prepared with a list of school supply needs.

1. Back to School Supplies Savings – Save by Being Prepared
   
   • Each state has a list of items that can be purchased tax-free during this time frame.
   • Know what will be tax free and start writing a school supply list of items to shop for.
   • Compare prices between local retail stores, drug stores, and on the Internet. Know who is offering the lowest prices.
   • Establish a budget for school supplies for each child. Go over it with the kids so they have a say in what is purchased.
   • Keep ads, flyers, and coupons for all stores. Many stores will honor their competitor’s sale prices.
   • Know the hours the stores will be open and ensure that everyone that is going shopping will be available.
   • Avoid the temptation to spend more since you will be saving money on back to school supplies.

2. Tax-Free Holiday by State – Save on School Supplies
   
   Here is a list of the States offering this money saving holiday, the dates for buying school supplies tax-free, and how to find out further information.
   
   • Alabama
   August 7-9 - http://www.ador.state.al.us/salestax/SalesTaxHol.htm
   • Connecticut
   August 16-22 - http://www.ct.gov
   • District of Columbia
   August 1-9 - http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/
   • Georgia
   July 31-Aug 3 - www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday
   • Iowa
   August 7-8 - http://www.iowaccess.org/tax/
   • Mississippi
   July 31-August 1 - http://www.ltgovbryant.com/news/2009/Mar/SalesTaxHoliday.html
   • Missouri
   August 7-9 - http://www.dor.mo.gov/tax/
   • New Mexico
   August 7-9 - http://www.state.nm.us/tax/
   • North Carolina
   August 7-9 - http://www.dor.state.nc.us/
   • Oklahoma
   August 1-3 - http://www.tax.ok.gov/
   • South Carolina
   August 7-9 - http://www.sctax.org/
   • Tennessee
   August 7-9 - http://tn.gov/revenue/
   • Texas
   August 21-23 - http://www.window.state.tx.us
   • Virginia
   August 7 - 9 - http://www.tax.virginia.gov
   • West Virginia
   September 1-November 30 - http://www.state.wv.us/taxdiv

3. Re-Stock School Supplies and Save Money During Holiday Shopping
   
   School supplies run out during the course of the year so these additional tax-free holiday dates will be beneficial to re-stock school supplies and for the upcoming holiday shopping season. The Retailer’s Association is lobbying for three additional tax-free holidays for the holiday shopping season, also.
   
   • District of Columbia
   Nov. 27 – Dec. 6 - http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr
   • Georgia
   Oct 1-4 - www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday
   • Virginia
   October-TBD - http://www.tax.virginia.gov

Resources

• How to Find Money You Did Not Know You Had

[sonni57]

on 7/7/2009 Good article on saving money for school supplies.