Joe Deshotel

New Items added to Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

Deshotel Reminds Parents of Back-to-School Savings

With parents looking to save, Representative Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, is reminding them that the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday, August 21st, and ends at midnight on Sunday, August 23rd.

“The holiday offers a reprieve for Jefferson County families,” Deshotel said, “and this year, there are new items parents can buy without paying sales tax.”

According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the law exempts most clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. Additionally, parents can also buy some backpacks tax-free.

New this year parents will also get a break on most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school.

Approved by the 1999 Texas Legislature, the sales tax holiday is designed to give families a tax break as they outfit their children with back-to-school clothing. Almost all clothing and shoes costing under $100 per item are included in the sales tax holiday.

“This holiday will give taxpayers more money in their pocketbook. The increase in disposable income will allow families to buy more of the school items they need,” Representative Deshotel stated. “I hope parents will take advantage of this significant cost savings.”

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Sales Tax Holiday Items

The following is a list of items parents can buy tax free this weekend (if priced less than $100):

* Binders
* Book bags
* Calculators
* Cellophane tape
* Blackboard chalk
* Compasses
* Composition Books
* Crayons
* Erasers
* Folders; expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
* Glue, paste and paste sticks
* Highlighters
* Index cards
* Index card boxes
* Legal pads
* Lunch boxes
* Markers
* Notebooks
* Paper; loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
* Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
* Pencil sharpeners
* Pencils
* Pens
* Protractors
* Rulers
* Scissors
* Writing tablets

Clothing, Footwear and Backpacks

The following items will be tax-free:

* Baby clothes
* Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students
* Belts with attached buckles
* Boots - cowboy, hiking
* Caps/hats - baseball, fishing, golf, knitted
* Coats and wraps
* Diapers - adult and baby
* Dresses
* Gloves (generally)
* Gym suits and uniforms
* Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
* Hosiery
* Jackets
* Jeans
* Jerseys - baseball and football
* Jogging apparel
* Neckwear and ties
* Pajamas
* Pants and trousers
* Raincoats and ponchos
* Robes
* Shirts
* Shoes - sandals, slippers, sneakers, tennis, walking
* Socks (including athletic)
* Shorts
* Suits, slacks, and jackets
* Sweatshirts
* Sweat suits
* Sweaters
* Swimsuits
* Underclothes
* Work clothes and uniforms