Signs advertise weekend sales and tax-free promotions outside Terra Tots Natural Parenting and The Independent Denim & Essentials on the Fayetteville downtown square Friday.
Todd Gill, Flyer staff
Back-to-school shoppers have an added incentive to hit the stores this weekend.
Besides money saved through expected sales and discounts at national and local shops, Arkansas consumers will not have to pay sales taxes on numerous items, like school supplies, clothing and shoes.
The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, and runs until midnight Sunday, Aug. 3.
Anyone can take advantage of the program, but there are some rules and exemptions. For example, clothing and shoes must be less than $100 per item to qualify as tax-free, and clothing accessories must be under $50 per item.
Below is a list of items that are tax-free this weekend:
Clothing (less than $100 per item)
Includes all human wearing apparel suitable for general use.
Aprons, household and shop; athletic supporters; baby receiving blankets; bathing suits and caps; beach capes and coats; belts and suspenders; boots; coats and jackets; costumes; diapers, including disposables; earmuffs; footlets; formal wear; garters and garter belts; girdles; gloves & mittens for general use; hats and caps; hosiery; insoles for shoes; lab coats; neckties; overshoes; pantyhose; rainwear; rubber pants; sandals; scarves; shoes and shoe laces; slippers; sneakers; socks and stockings; steel toed shoes; underwear; uniforms, athletic & non-athletic; and wedding apparel.
Clothing accessories (less than $50 per item)
Includes incidental items worn on the person or in conjunction with clothing.
Briefcases; cosmetics; hair notions, including barrettes, hair bows, and hair nets; handbags; handkerchiefs; jewelry; sun glasses, non-prescription; umbrellas; wallets; watches; wigs and hair pieces.
School supplies (unlimited pricing)
Includes items commonly used by a student in a course of study. Limited to items listed below.
Binders; book bags; calculators; cellophane tape; blackboard chalk; compasses; composition books; crayons; erasers; folders – expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila; glue, paste, and paste sticks; highlighters; index cards and index card boxes; legal pads; lunch boxes; markers; notebooks; pencil boxes and other school supply boxes; pencil sharpeners; paper – loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper; pencils; pens; protractors; rulers; scissors; writing tablets.
School art supplies (unlimited pricing)
Includes items commonly used by a student in a course of study for artwork. Limited to items listed below.
Clay and glazes; sketch and drawing pads; paints – acrylic, tempora, and oil; watercolors; paintbrushes for artwork.
School instructional materials (unlimited pricing)
Written material commonly used by a student in a course of study as a reference and to learn the subject being taught. Limited to items listed below.
Reference books; textbooks; reference maps and globes; workbooks.
Source: State of Arkansas
