Hailey
The Tax-Free Weekend is a special time when shoppers can take advantage of tax exemptions on certain items. This annual event is being held in three states—Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas—starting today and running through Sunday. Here is everything you need to know about the tax exemptions and what you can buy without paying sales tax.
Oklahoma’s Tax-Free Weekend
In Oklahoma, the Tax-Free Weekend applies to clothing and footwear purchases at retail and online stores. However, there are some rules to keep in mind.
- Clothing or footwear with a price under $100 per item will be exempt from sales tax.
- The tax exemption does not cover jewelry, handbags, luggage, wallets, watches, umbrellas, cleats, or pads.
- Additionally, school supplies are not included in Oklahoma’s tax-free weekend, so you will still need to pay tax on those items.
Arkansas’ Tax-Free Weekend
In Arkansas, the Tax-Free Weekend will be held this weekend as well, with similar rules to Oklahoma’s. Like Oklahoma, Arkansas excludes items such as jewelry and watches, and school supplies are not included in the exemption.
Missouri’s Tax-Free Weekend
Missouri also holds its tax-free weekend, but it differs slightly in what it covers.
- In Missouri, clothing priced over $100 will not be taxed.
- Items like school uniforms, which are made of cloth, are also tax-free.
- However, watches, jewelry, handbags, and other accessories are not tax-exempt in Missouri.
- School supplies are included, and these may include:
- Textbooks
- Notebooks
- Paper
- Writing instruments
- Crayons, art supplies, rulers
- Backpacks and book bags
- Calculators, including graphing calculators that cost less than $150.
- Computer software that does not exceed $350.
- However, there are some exclusions for Missouri, such as:
- Watches, radios, CD players, headphones
- Sporting equipment
- Office equipment, furniture, and fixtures
- Personal computers and peripherals costing less than $1,500 are exempt from tax, as long as the purchase fits the criteria.
What is Considered a Personal Computer?
In Missouri, a personal computer can be a laptop, desktop, or tower system, including parts like:
- Central processing unit (CPU)
- Random-access memory (RAM)
- Storage drives
- Display monitors
- Keyboards
Peripheral devices are also tax-free if they meet the price requirements, and these include items like:
- Disk drives
- Memory modules
- Printers
- Scanners
- Sound cards
- Video cards
What is Not Included?
It’s important to note that there are items excluded from the tax exemption across all three states. These include:
- Electronics like radios, phones, and copiers.
- Furniture and office supplies.
- Sporting goods and other accessories that aren’t clothing or school-related.
Whether you live in Oklahoma, Missouri, or Arkansas, this is an excellent time to save money on clothing and school supplies during the Tax-Free Weekend. Be sure to keep an eye on the rules and exclusions for each state, as they can vary. While some states may not include school supplies or certain electronics, you can still save on a wide range of items.
Don’t miss out on these tax-saving opportunities this weekend. Take advantage of the chance to buy what you need without having to pay the extra sales tax!