Tax-free weekend begins July 31

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 24, 2015

Staff report

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Certain back-to-school items and supplies will be tax free at Georgia retailers beginning July 31.

The Georgia tax holiday allows consumers to buy some merchandise without paying sales tax if the retail value does not exceed certain values, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. The holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. July 31 and will last until midnight Aug. 1.

Consumers will be permitted to buy clothing and footwear with a sales price of $100 or less per item; computers, computer components and prewritten computer software purchased for noncommercial home or personal use with a sales price of $1,000 per item; School supplies, school art supplies, school computer supplies and school instructional materials purchased for noncommercial use with a sales price of $20 or less per item.

The exemption does not apply to belt buckles sold separately, costume masks sold separately, patches and emblems sold separately, sewing equipment and supplies, including – but not limited to – knitting needles, patterns, pins, scissors, sewing machines, sewing needles, tape measures and thimbles, and items that are to become part of clothing, such as buttons, fabric, lace, thread, yard and zippers. Cellular telephones are also not covered under the tax exemption.

For more information about the Georgia tax exempt holiday, contact the Georgia Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Services Division at 877-423-6711 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding holidays. Taxpayers with a hearing or speech impairment may call 404-412-4302. The Georgia Department of Revenue’s website may be accessed at www.dor.ga.gov.

The next scheduled Georgia tax exempt holiday is scheduled for Oct. 2 through 4 and will apply to Energy Star qualified products and WaterSense products with a sales price of $1,500 or less per item.

Reach the LaGrange Daily News at 706-884-7311.