Sales-Tax Holidays Ahead

Georgia consumers will get four days of tax-free shopping this summer. There will be no state sales tax on certain back-to-school items from Thursday July 30th, through Sunday August 2nd. Merchandise exempt from state taxes during the period include school supplies, clothing, footwear, and computers. Later in the year, from October 1st to 4th, there will be no state sales tax on the purchase of water and energy-efficient products.

"Green" sales tax holiday starts at midnight

Georgia officials hope to again encourage energy and water conservation through a sales-tax holiday, which starts just past midnight tonight--running through midnight Sunday.

Certain appliances and items with the ENERGY STAR label are exempt from state and local taxes, and a new provision this year also includes specific water efficient products in the tax-holiday.

There has been advance interest in the tax-free period. Michael Thornton is sales manager with the H.H.Gregg store in Douglasville:

"They’ve been coming-in about three weeks before this tax time inquiring about it. They want to find out exactly what models qualify".

However, Thornton says he doesn’t have a good gauge for how consumer traffic might be this weekend given the economic downturn. He notes lower customer volume through their store for the last few weeks.

For a list of tax-break approved items you can buy, go to the Georgia Department of Revenue website: dor.ga.gov

Georgia tax-free weekend open for business

Georgia’s tax-free holiday is underway, running through Sunday. Back-to-school shoppers are expected to benefit the most, as the 4-percent sales tax is waived for many clothes, school-related items, and computers and accessories. State transportation officials are giving Georgians a break as well during this tax-free weekend. Road construction lane closures will be scaled-back within a 5-mile radius of shopping malls or major retail districts.

Information on the sales tax holiday, from the Georgia Department of Revenue website:
A sales tax exemption applies to purchases of tangible personal property in the following categories:

* Articles of Clothing. The exemption applies to articles of clothing and footwear with a sales price of $100 or less per item. Clothing accessories such as handbags, umbrellas, cuff links, handkerchiefs, jewelry, key cases, wallets, watches and watch bands, and ponytail holders and/or similar hair products are not exempt. See lists of exempt items.
* Personal Computers. A single purchase of $1,500 or less of personal computers and/or related accessories is exempt. If the single purchase exceeds $1,500, the entire transaction is taxable. See list of exempt items.
* General School Supplies. The exemption applies to the purchase of general school supplies with a sales price of $20 or less per item. See list of exempt items.

The exemptions are intended for an individual's personal use. The exemptions exclude items rented, leased, purchased by businesses, or purchased for resale. The exemptions do not apply to items sold at theme parks, entertainment complexes, hotels, restaurants, and airports.

"Back-to-school" tax holiday this week

Georgia’s 2008 “back to school” sales tax holiday is this week. It begins just after midnight Wednesday and runs through midnight Sunday.

Clothing, shoes, school supplies and personal computers will be exempt from state and local sales taxes. Buyers get tax breaks on on-line purchases as well as in- store transactions.

For a list of eligible tax-exempt items go to the State Department of Revenue website.

"Energy Star" sales tax holiday starts tonight

Georgians have until midnight Sunday to buy appliances and products "tax free", but only those items with a particular energy conservation label.

Products with the ‘Energy Star’ designation will be free of any state or local sales taxes through the weekend. It applies to appliances and products with a price tag of 15-hundred dollars or less.

Items such as dish and clothes-washers, air conditioners, refrigerators, and fluorescent light bulbs are on the list as exempt from state and local taxes.

Governor Sonny Perdue is encouraging Georgians to take advantage of the tax-free holiday to help save on utility bills, and cut-down on energy consumption.

For a complete list of the "tax free" products, click here to go to the Georgia Department of Revenue's website.