Georgia sales tax holiday for back to school savings begins Friday

Clermont County Commissioner and 2nd Vice President of CCAO Ed Humphrey said the tax holiday will help families prepare for back-to-school.

For all the excitement among retailers and support among elected officials for the state’s holiday, there were reminders of Massachusetts’ northern neighbor with a more expansive – and more permanent – tax reprieve.

Sales of any article of clothing or footwear designed to be worn on or about the human body and the sales price of the article is less than one hundred dollars ($100) are exempt.

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For example, Target is offering “buy one, get one 50% off”, on numerous popular back-to-school items.

The Tax Foundation says sales tax holidays are based on politics, not sound policy. The trend peaked with 19 states in 2010, but some states, including North Carolina, have abandoned tax holidays in favor of lowering their overall tax rate.

With opening day of area schools quickly approaching, the good news is the three-day sales tax holiday is nearly here.

Fear not, all you antsy shoppers and retailers, the Massachusetts Legislature paved the way for another sales tax holiday weekend. Its findings are based in part on an analysis of a sales tax holiday in Florida in 2010. The exemption depends on the actual price paid for each item.

The tax-free weekend on purchases of items like clothing and computers up to certain totals ends Saturday at midnight.

The bill sets this year’s holiday for August. 15-16 and would suspend the sales tax for purchases of nearly all retail items $2,500 and under. Additionally, if an item is back-ordered and payment does not occur until a later shipment, the item would not qualify for the exemption.

“… Sales tax holidays introduce damaging distortions into the economy and increase the government’s hand in the market”.

The bill directs the revenue commissioner to take actions to comply with federal requirements that states simplify the collection of sales and use taxes from remote sellers, including providing “adequate” software and services to such sellers.