Shoppers flock to Missouri stores to enjoy tax-free weekend

Smith and her daughter Kat say the last time they braved the weekend crowds it was too late for essential school supplies.

The state will reimburse cities and counties for the more than $7.3 million in projected sales taxes that shoppers will save during the three-day sales tax holiday. Items priced higher than those limits aren’t eligible for the tax savings.

The sales tax holiday applies only to the four percent state sales tax.

Students spend $899 on average as part of their back-to-school shopping, according to the National Retail Federation’s Back-To-School Spending Survey. Sales taxes are also waived for school supplies worth $15 or less.

In Albuquerque, that means saving about $7 for every $100 spent on qualifying items, which include certain clothing, shoes, computers and classroom supplies.

An opportunity to save some money on back to school shopping – South Carolina’s tax-free weekend started Friday and runs through Sunday.

Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce President Travis Markwood said it’s hard to say what effect the tax holiday will spur since it is new.

“I wanted to take advantage of this year’s tax free season, we have a couple of days to get it all done so we’re trying to get it done”, says Harry Garrett.

The Tax Foundation has been a vocal opponent of the holidays, which it called “politically expedient but poor tax policy” in a recent report.

There is no restriction on how many exempt items shoppers can purchase.

“The hurricane tax free weekend is being combined with the back to school weekend”, said Kenneth Ryder, Winchester’s Home Depot Lumber and Building Supervisor.

While the bulk of Walmart’s sales are made in the retail stores, Smith said people are encouraged to buy things online and have them shipped free to the store.