July 26, 2013

Jackson Clarion Ledger: A Mississippi sales-tax holiday primer

media mention

(Original Post)

If you’re looking to save money on many kinds of clothing and footwear – but not school supplies – then the next two days are for you.
Friday and Saturday will mark this year’s installment of Mississippi’s sales tax holiday, in which the state’s 7 percent sales tax will be generally waived on clothing and footwear priced at under $100 apiece. Three cities are not participating: Enterprise, Heidelberg and Crenshaw.
The savings can be had if someone buys, for example, two $50 shirts and a $75 pair of pants. Those goods total $175 but are eligible items since their individual value is less than $100.
What’s eligible and what isn’t? It’s all over the map, and surprises abound when viewing the state’s list of exempt and non-exempt items.
Baseball caps and jerseys are exempt, but baseball cleats, gloves and pants aren’t. Because why would anyone want to play America’s Pastime in a full uniform? Chef uniforms, clerical garb, hunting vests and leg warmers are exempt. Football pants, football pads, dance shoes, fishing boots and life jackets are not. Accessories like jewelry, purses, watches and headbands are not exempt. Bow ties are exempt, graduation caps and gowns are not.
But most conspicuous by their absence are things in high demand at this time of year, and that families could use some savings on: school supplies. Notebooks, slide rules, calculators, book bags – all are being taxed as normal the next two days.
Mississippi officials should seriously consider allowing at least some school supplies to be exempt in future years. Exempting certain school supplies based on their price already is a staple of sales tax holidays in other states, including most all of them that surround Mississippi, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.
But some retailers are offering back-to-school goods and services at discounts in places where they’re not exempt from a state sales tax. Walmart says it’s offering more than 250 school supplies for less than $1 each and free shipping on school supplies and uniforms purchased on its website.
Sales-tax exemptions on school supplies would be beneficial for a broad range of people across all economic levels in Mississippi. The rich, poor and those in between have kids ready to start school, and they all could use the savings, particularly those who are surrounded by poverty and have more than enough trouble getting a quality education for their children, much less affording the supplies their children need.

If you’re looking to save money on many kinds of clothing and footwear – but not school supplies – then the next two days are for you.

Friday and Saturday will mark this year’s installment of Mississippi’s sales tax holiday, in which the state’s 7 percent sales tax will be generally waived on clothing and footwear priced at under $100 apiece. Three cities are not participating: Enterprise, Heidelberg and Crenshaw.

The savings can be had if someone buys, for example, two $50 shirts and a $75 pair of pants. Those goods total $175 but are eligible items since their individual value is less than $100.

What’s eligible and what isn’t? It’s all over the map, and surprises abound when viewing the state’s list of exempt and non-exempt items.

Baseball caps and jerseys are exempt, but baseball cleats, gloves and pants aren’t. Because why would anyone want to play America’s Pastime in a full uniform? Chef uniforms, clerical garb, hunting vests and leg warmers are exempt. Football pants, football pads, dance shoes, fishing boots and life jackets are not. Accessories like jewelry, purses, watches and headbands are not exempt. Bow ties are exempt, graduation caps and gowns are not.

But most conspicuous by their absence are things in high demand at this time of year, and that families could use some savings on: school supplies. Notebooks, slide rules, calculators, book bags – all are being taxed as normal the next two days.

Mississippi officials should seriously consider allowing at least some school supplies to be exempt in future years. Exempting certain school supplies based on their price already is a staple of sales tax holidays in other states, including most all of them that surround Mississippi, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.

But some retailers are offering back-to-school goods and services at discounts in places where they’re not exempt from a state sales tax. Walmart says it’s offering more than 250 school supplies for less than $1 each and free shipping on school supplies and uniforms purchased on its website.

Sales-tax exemptions on school supplies would be beneficial for a broad range of people across all economic levels in Mississippi. The rich, poor and those in between have kids ready to start school, and they all could use the savings, particularly those who are surrounded by poverty and have more than enough trouble getting a quality education for their children, much less affording the supplies their children need.

 

 


Tags


Share