Annual Sales Tax Holiday August 20-22nd -- Texas Families Save Millions during Break
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas State Representative Roberto R. Alonzo today once again reminded Texas families including the thousands in Dallas and the surrounding DFW region that the annual back-to-school Sales Tax Holiday starts this coming weekend at 12:01 a.m. on Friday August 20 and ends at midnight on Sunday August 22.
The Sales Tax Holiday is a great way for Texas families to save some money as they prepare for the new school year. I support any type of tax breaks that Texas families can take advantage of in order to offset the increasing cost of living especially during this time of the year when so many of our children are getting ready to go back to school and many coming from families that are having to struggle to put food on the table.
Every year it is becoming more expensive to purchase even the most basic pieces of clothing and standard school supplies simply to help our children start the school year. The problem is magnified when children come from families that earn minimum wage or live from paycheck to paycheck.
While I agree that this annual tax-free holiday weekend may not be the cure all it will go a long way in helping many Texas families with much needed tax breaks as they get ready to send their children back to school. I am pleased to have been part of the legislation and to do my part to make this tax-free holiday a successful one for all Texas families and children. I encourage everyone to take advantage of it as much as possible Rep. Alonzo said.
Rep. Alonzo said that consumers will be able to buy most clothes and shoes priced under $100 tax-free during the three-day weekend. Also because of a 2007 change in the law shoppers can also purchase school backpacks for elementary and
secondary students tax-free this year.
Also as a result of 2009 legislation there are a number of other items that have been added to the list. To help with that this press release includes a couple of useful attachments from the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) state agency that outlines an all-inclusive list of all items that qualify for the tax-free exemptions.
Texas families are expected to save tens of millions of dollars in sales tax during this years Sales Tax Holiday.
Rep. Alonzo explained that consumers will not be required to pay state or local sales tax on items less than $100 no matter how much they buy. According to Rep. Alonzo in addition to the relief of the states sales tax of 6.25 communities across Texas have also chosen to waive their local sales taxes which will save taxpayers an additional 2 in most areas. Texans have saved more than $600 million in sales taxes since the first Sales Tax Holiday in August of 1999.
As a parent myself I know from personal experience how expensive it can get at the beginning of any school year simply to get our children at the front door of any campus Rep. Alonzo said. This tax-free holiday weekend parents have the opportunity to keep more money in their pockets and still buy their children the clothes they need to start school.
Even with the sales tax savings some families may not be able to afford all that they need during the third weekend in August said Rep. Alonzo. Texans will not be charged sales tax on tax-exempt items placed on layaway or items bought out from
layaway during the Sales Tax Holiday explained Rep. Alonzo.
The 81st Texas Legislature passed HB 1801 (2009) expanding the list of items qualifying for exemption from Texas state and local sales and use taxes during the annual sales tax holiday in August. Effective this year in addition to clothes footwear and some backpacks Texas families also get a sales tax break on most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school.
For further information on the Sales Tax Holiday weekend one can call toll-free at (800) 252-5555 or (512) 463-4600 or visit the website at
www.cpa.state.tx.us.
One can also go directly to the link at
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html
Of course for more information on the Sales Tax Holiday and a list of tax-exempt items Rep. Alonzo also encourages those interested to call his Austin Capitol office at (512) 463-0408 toll-free at (866) 449-5770 or his Dallas Legislative Office at (214) 942-7104 or visit the State of Texas website at
www.capitol.state.tx.us.
