Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee will all have their annual sales tax holidays this weekend, allowing parents to stretch their back-to-school shopping dollars.
It's a great opportunity for consumers and retailers alike. Customers can buy more product for the same amount of cash, while stores can rake in extra money without raising prices.
It's a win-win.
In Arkansas, the annual sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. State and local sales tax will not be collected during this 48-hour period on the sale of: clothing and footwear if the sales price is less than $100 per item; clothing accessories and equipment if the sales price is less than $50 per item; school supplies; school art supplies; and school instructional materials.
In Missouri, the three-day holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and runs through Sunday. Certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items as defined by the statute, are exempt from sales tax for this time period only.
In Tennessee, the tax-free holiday weekend begins at 12:01 a.m on Friday, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Tax-free items include clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and school art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item and computers with a price of $1,500 or less. These items are exempt from state and local sales tax in Tennessee during the holiday. Local governments are held harmless and are reimbursed lost sales tax revenues by the state.
The school supply lists seem to grow each year, and the tax-free weekend takes some of the sting out of back-to-school shopping. The program is especially beneficial to those on a tight budget and larger families with multiple school supply lists to fill.
All three states deserve credit for offering a sales tax holiday. I'm sure our readers from all three states are appreciative as well.
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I'm a big proponent of shopping local whenever possible. When we shop local, we're supporting local businesses, our neighbors and family members in some cases.
I intend to do as much back-to-school shopping here as possible.
For the past few years, Arkansas has offered a sales tax holiday, giving Arkansans more incentive to shop in their hometown.
Because of the tax-free weekend, there should be a lot of traffic in area stores this weekend.
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I know several good-hearted bargain hunters who load up on items to donate to various charities.
I'm sure a few of them will be out this weekend as well, looking to help stock the school supply drives around town.
Ignite is collecting school supplies to give away, as is Farmers Bank and Trust.
Both groups hold school supply drives each year and deserve credit for their efforts.
Last year, Ignite donated 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to Blytheville students with hopes of repeating that number again on Aug. 17 during the district's annual Back to School Bash.
Donations should be dropped off at Pathway Church by Aug. 13. Monetary donations can be made out to Ignite, P.O. Box 466, Blytheville.
For more information, contact Pastor Danny Rigney at Pathway at 870-763-4561.
The Farmers Bank school supply drive runs through Aug. 8, with the supplies collected going to foster children in Mississippi County, and to children at The Haven.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com