Are you ready to save some money with back to school shopping?

As we are getting ready to send kids back to school (MCPS first day of school is August 29), most parents and caretakers will be thinking about back to school shopping. To provide some relief from this usual August expense, Maryland's Tax-Free Week is back this year from August 13th through the 19th.

During the tax-free period, any qualifying clothing or footwear item priced at $100 or less will be exempt from Maryland's 6% sales tax. Parents can pick up shirts, pants, jeans, dresses, shoes, socks and other apparel without having to worry about sales tax. In addition to clothing, the first $40 spent on any backpack purchase is also tax-free. Whether shopping for a basic backpack or something more high-tech, parents can save a few extra dollars to put towards other essential school supplies.

With many families looking to cut costs amidst inflation and rising prices, the tax-free week provides welcome savings on must-have clothing, gear and school supplies. Retailers often offer additional discounts on top of the tax savings to attract shoppers, so check Target’s and Staples websites.
Consumers should remember that some items like jewelry, handbags, coats and sports equipment don't qualify for tax-free status. Shoppers can check the Maryland Comptroller's website for more details on qualifying items:
https://www.marylandtaxes.gov/divisions/comp/Shop_Maryland_Tax-free_Week/List_of_Taxable_and_Exempt_Items.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The tax-free week only comes around once per year, so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to save on back-to-school necessities. A bit of strategic shopping this month can help stretch the back-to-school budget.