ATTENTION: It’s time to mark your calendars for South Carolina’s tax-free shopping weekend which runs from August 4 to August 6.
If you’re getting ready for back to school shopping, the tax-free weekend is the time to hit all the stores! The state Department of Revenue announced that this tax-free weekend would also include approved school supply items, which means that you can save on local taxes and the state’s 6% sales tax.
Over the last several years, the state calculates that shoppers have saved between $2 million to $3 million during tax-free weekend.
Here’s just a short list of back to school items that you can save money on:
Clothing
- Athletic uniforms or clothing
- Bathing suits and trunks
- Belt buckles
- Belts and suspenders
- Blouses
- Boots
- Bow ties
- Coats
- Costumes
- Dresses
- Earmuffs
- Formal clothing
- Graduation caps and gowns
- Hair supplies (elastic ponytail holders, barrettes, bobby pins, hair bows, hair clips and headbands)
- Handbags/purses
- Hats
- Jackets
- Jeans
- Leotards and tights
- Pajamas
- Pants
- Prom dresses
- Raincoats/rainwear
- Roller skates
- School uniforms
- Scout uniforms
- Shirts
- Shoes (ballet, baseball, bicycle, boat, boots, bowling, cleated, cross trainers, flip-flops, football, golf, jazz, dance, soccer, track, in-line skates, ice skates, running, sandals, slippers, etc.)
- Shorts
- Skirts
- Socks
- Suits
- Sweatpants, sweatshirts, sweatsuits, sweatbands
- Sweaters
- Ties/neckwear
- T-shirts
- Tuxedos
- Underwear
School Supplies and Technology
- Computer hardware and software service contracts sold in conjunction with computers
- Computer software
- Computers (computer parts and accessories, such as keyboards, computer monitors, scanners, etc., that are not sold in conjunction with a CPU are taxable)
- Organizers and daily planners for school children
- Personal Digital Assistants or PDAs (this does not apply to cell phones with a PDA, computer applications or similar components)
- Printer supplies
- Printers (replacement parts are taxable)
- School supplies (pens, pencils, paper, binders, notebooks, books, blue books, bookbags, lunchboxes, musical instruments and calculators)
Dorm and Home
- Bath mats, bath rugs, bath towels and washcloths
- Bed linens, including bed skirts, box spring covers, dust ruffles, mattress pads, mattress toppers, pillow covers and shams, pillow cases, bed sheets and bed spreads
- Blankets
- Comforter sets, bed duvets and duvet covers
- Pillows
- Shower curtains and liners
Please note that furniture, eyewear, jewelry, cosmetics and layaway purchase are not exempt. Happy shopping!