Tax-free weekend rapidly approaching

If you find two pairs of trousers, one costing $65, and the other costing $79, only the $65 pair would be tax-free. It’s a great way to stock up on some essentials, mainly for back-to-school, without spending unnecessary money.

Question: Must the eligible item being sold be delivered to the customer during the three-day sales tax holiday for the exemption to apply? Mark Montigny amendment requiring the state revenue commissioner to establish a uniform certification process for software providers in alignment with the process established by the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement Governing Board and subject to the approval of the state inspector general.

Q. What types of items qualify as school supplies?

The tax-free weekend on purchases of items like clothing and computers up to certain totals ends Saturday at midnight. All states that offered back-to-school sales tax holidays last year are continuing their programs in 2015, without any being discontinued or expiring. Nathan Deal, citing a Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget estimate, said shoppers would save as much as $73 million this weekend.

School supplies, computers and many athletic and extra-curricular clothing items are not exempt from the sales tax.

“The sales tax holiday has become an annual event in our state and today the Legislature voted to give a small tax break to consumers and businesses alike”, said Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, in the announcement.

“It’s politically popular, but it’s awful legislation”, Silvia said on the House floor, calling the tax holiday “fat” in the budget.

Georgia families will get a second chance to save money with a Fall Tax Free Holiday happening October 2-4, 2015.

Research has shown the average Ohio family will spend about $700 on back-to-school supplies and clothing.

To top off the holiday, school supplies such as binders, calculators, pens and paper purchased for a noncommercial use with a sales price of $20 or less are tax-free Friday and Saturday.

Question: Can retailers elect not to participate in the sales tax holiday and collect the sales tax from their customers on eligible items during the three days of the sales tax holiday?