Education, Careers & Professional News
Georgia School Shoppers to Get Extra Credit
A Georgia plan to give parents a back-to-school break on sales taxes covers everything from pencils to penny loafers – and even from skin-diving suits to garter belts.
Shoppers are finding the program – which grants the tax breaks only in broad categories, like footwear and undergarments – can be stretched to include items not on the traditional pupils wish list.
For example, during the four-day tax holiday outdoors enthusiasts can skip sales taxes on fishing vests, ski boots, karate outfits and inline skates, as long as they cost less than $100.
And to the delight of twentysomethings who combed through a trendy Atlanta mall on Thursday, garter belts and corsets are also exempt from the usual sales tax of 5 percent to 8 percent.
Revenue Department spokesman Charles Willey said back-to-school shopping is only one goal of the tax holiday, which is in its fifth year and runs through Sunday.
Indeed. Sales taxes are also being forgiven on up to $1,500 of computers and accessories and general school supplies that cost no more than $20 each, not to mention ski boots, skin-diving suits and weightlifting belts. Customers were expected to save roughly $17 million during the tax holiday.
Sources : Online Resources