Dateline: July 31, 2003

Local merchants gear up for sales tax holiday

By Ashlee Kidd, Clarendon Enterprise

As Texans gear up for the annual Tax Free Holiday school-shopping spree, local merchants are cutting prices and rolling out the red carpet for local buyers.

Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has announced that the annual Sales Tax Holiday is coming up August 1-3.

“I love the Sales Tax Holiday. It’s the one time when hard-working Texas families get to keep more of their dollars in their pockets for their families’ priorities.” Comptroller Strayhorn said. “During the Sales Tax Holiday, most clothes and shoes priced under $100 are exempt from state and local sales taxes.”

For the fifth year, small businesses have the opportunity to give people in the community an extra incentive to shop close to home.

“We are busy preparing for the holiday by posting signs and handing out brochures telling customers what will be on sale,” Linda Gray of Duckwall’s said.  “We will be holding a storewide sale throughout the holiday.”

According to local merchants, the community has responded well in the past.

“It’s always surprised me how well the community has responded,” Terry Askew of Sayes said.  “They all come out to shop and take advantage of the savings.”

Businesses are currently making plans in anticipation of the holiday.

“We plan to have a storewide sale with everything marked down 10 to 50%,” Askew said.

For a good price on quality clothes, these hometown businesses prove consumers may not have to go far from home.

“We have lots of new fall merchandise for back to school,” Markeeta Howard of Every Nook and Cranny said. “In addition to the tax break, all of our summer items will be 50% off.”

Cornell’s Country Store is also conducting a sale and has lots of clothing that fall in the tax free category.

Examples of items that can be purchased tax-free August 1-3 include kids’ clothes and school uniforms, adults’ clothes and work uniforms, shoes, tennis shoes, sleepwear and underclothes for the entire family as long as the items are priced under $100 each.

Items that cannot be purchased tax-free include handbags, wallets, accessories, athletic shoes and sports apparel that are not normally street wear, backpacks, and school supplies.

For more information about the Sales Tax Holiday, including a list of tax-exempt and non-exempt items, visit the Comptroller’s Web site at http://www.window.state.tx.us.