From Staff Reports

NASHVILLE -- The eighth annual Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday is set to begin on Friday, Aug. 2, at 12:01 a.m. and will end Sunday, Aug. 4 at 11:59 p.m. State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), who co-sponsored the 2005 law anticipates another successful year for shoppers, especially parents who are getting students ready to go back to school.

"This sales tax holiday has provided citizens with some sales tax relief, while helping businesses improve sales during a critical time in our economy," said Tracy. "I am very pleased this initiative is now in its eighth year. I hope everyone will take advantage of this opportunity for savings and shop at area businesses to help our local economy as well."

During the designated three-day Sales Tax Holiday weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on select clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less.

Clothing includes shirts, dresses, pants, coats, gloves, hats and caps, hosiery, neckties, belts, sneakers, shoes, uniforms and scarves. School supplies include items used by a student in a course of study. It also includes binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, ruler, and scissors.

Computers with a purchase price of $1,500 or less, not for use in a trade or business, are also exempt from tax. Laptop computers, if priced at $1,500 or less, qualify, as well as tablet computers.

For more information, please contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue online at at http://tn.gov/revenue/salestaxholiday/. Citizens or merchants who have inquiries can also call (800) 342-1003 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.