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Back to School Tax-Free Shopping

Published: August 2, 2022

Back to School Tax-Free Shopping

If your state participates in a sales tax holiday, shopping during this time period is a great way to save money on back-to-school supplies.

Eligible items usually include the necessities, such as clothing, footwear, backpacks, and school supplies. Keep in mind, all states offering tax-free weekends place some restrictions on what you can buy tax free. Additionally, some municipalities charge their own local taxes, and those are NOT always waived, even during tax-free weekend.

Check the Federation of Tax Administrators' list of 2022 State Sales Tax Holidays to see if your state is on it, when the tax-free dates are for back-to-school items and a general breakdown of what you can get without taxes being added.

For our members in the DMV area; Maryland's tax-free holiday starts August 14 and lasts an entire week! For a complete list of what is and is not tax-free, visit www.marylandtaxes.gov.

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Do tax-free weekends include online sales?

All states participating in tax-free weekend will allow you to shop online for qualifying items if the following apply:

  1. You complete your purchase (including payment) during your state's tax-free weekend.
  2. The retailer you shop online with is actively doing business in your state during tax-free weekend.
  3. Items you purchase qualify and meet the terms for tax-free status.
  4. You live in the participating state (usually determined by your shipping/billing address).

In some states, shipping costs don't factor into the item's price, meaning you don't have to worry about shipping fees bumping your item above the tax-free threshold. In some states, the opposite is true. Know your state's policy before you shop, and if things get complicated, consider placing an order of eligible items only.

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Additional Ways Families Can Save on School Supplies

 Stick to a Budget

  • After printing out the school’s supply list, decide what you’ll buy and how much you’ll spend, and take your list with you when you go shopping so you stick to it.

Take Inventory of Leftovers

  • Crayons that were barely used, notebooks with leftover sheets and mechanical pencils that just need new lead; there’s usually plenty of supplies your kids brought home that can be reused.

 Buy Extras in Bulk

  • If you have multiple kids, split up the bulk box amongst their classrooms. If you only have one child, keep the extras for your own home.

Follow Your Favorite Stores

  • You can find deals by following your local shopping stores on social media sites, like Instagram and Facebook.
  • Many companies send their loyal customers coupon links and advance notices of sales, especially around back-to-school season.
  • If coupon cutting isn’t for you, a lot of stores now have apps that keep track of coupons for you, saving you time and money.
  • Shop at stores that offer price match guarantees to make sure you’re getting the best deals. You’ll also save time shopping at one store instead of running around to find the deals.
  • Apps like ShopSavvy allow you to easily scan barcodes to compare prices with other stores.

Maximize your tax savings with a Smart Rewards Visa®

Whether you plan to shop online or in person, you’ll earn redeemable reward points on every purchase. Open your card during the month of August and GET 5,000 BONUS POINTS.*

APPLY ONLINE    Learn more >>

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Promotional Disclosure

*Bonus Points Offer Available to New Smart Rewards Visa Credit Cardholders Only. Promotion valid for Smart Rewards Visa Credit Cards opened between Friday, July 01, 2022 (12:00am EST.) and Wednesday, August 31, 2022 (11:59pm EST). Must complete five transactions using your new card before Friday, September 30, 2022, to qualify for bonus points. View complete terms and conditions at ussfcu.org/rewards.

Article Sources

+National Retail Federation

This material is for informational purposes only. These are general guidelines based on currently available information. Check with your state's revenue department for more details on what items may be exempt. Also, keep in mind some states allow counties and towns the ability to opt-out, so some sales taxes may still apply.

Contributing articles:

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