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Back-to-school sales-tax holiday starts Friday [The Palm Beach Post, Fla. :: ](Palm Beach Post (FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 30--Florida's back-to-school sales-tax holiday kicks off Friday, offering shoppers a tax break on more clothing and computer-related items this year. The three-day tax break starts one minute after midnight Friday and runs through Sunday. During that time, shoppers won't be charged the state's 6 percent sale tax on hundreds of school-related items. The state has expanded the annual tax break this year to include clothing, footwear and certain accessories up to $100, Last year's limit was $75. Computers will be tax-exempt on the first $750 of the sales price. That means shoppers who buy a $1,000 computer will pay taxes only on $250 -- a $45 savings. Last year's tax break was limited to computers of $750 or less. Like last year, school supplies up to $15 are also exempt. The state estimates taxpayers will save about $39 million this year as a result of the tax holiday. John Fleming, a spokesman with the Florida Retail Federation, said many shoppers wait for the holiday to make school-related purchases, despite other sales and discounts. "Retailers will tell us they can offer 20 to 40 percent discount and it is still not as attractive as a tax break," Fleming said. "There is something about the psychology of a tax break that attracts people." Most retailers try to beat the competition by offering additional discounts to sweeten the savings. BrandsMart USA plans to pay the remaining sales tax on any computer or tablet over the state's $750 limit. That means customers will not have to pay sales tax on any computer or laptop purchased at the store during the three-day holiday, the company said. Beall's Florida will extend its department stores' hours during the tax holiday. The company said it also plans to offer "Black Friday-like savings" to lure shoppers. Families are expected to spend slightly more this summer on school supplies and other school-related items than they did last year, according to the National Retail Federation. The average family will spend $669 on apparel, shoes, supplies and electronics, up 5 percent from 2013, according to the national federation. Jupiter resident Jaime Gonzalez tried to beat the back-to-school crowds by shopping for school supplies on Wednesday in advance of the sale-tax holiday. Gonzalez was at the Target on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard in West Palm Beach shopping for her 5-year-old daughter, Sofia, who will start kindergarten when the school year begins on Aug. 18. "This is my first time doing this," Gonzalez said. "I don't want to be one of those last-minute moms struggling to get supplies." Gonzalez said she feared large crowds looking for tax-holiday savings would leave store shelves bare. The tax savings was not enough to fight the crowds this weekend, she added. "The $5 or $10, it is not worth the headache," Gonzalez said. "I like to shop when there is no one around." For West Palm Beach resident Mayra Palacio, the tax break can add up. The 25-year-old said her family waits for the annual event before purchasing back-to-school items. "It makes a difference," Palacio said. On Wednesday, Palacio was at the Target scouting the inventory with her mother, Maria, and her 13-year-old sister Laura. "We are just previewing everything," Palacio said. "We are going to come back over the weekend." Palacio said the family also looked for items at Walmart and Office Depot, and plans to start shopping early this weekend to make sure they get the items they want. "If you come late, they are going to be all gone," Palacio said. "It really does sell out." ___ (c)2014 The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Visit The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) at www.palmbeachpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |