Don't Delay, Tax-Free Break for Back-to-School Shoppers Ends Today (Aug. 5)

You've got one more day to purchase back-to-school clothing and school supplies without paying a sales tax. The 2012 Sales Tax Holiday runs for one last day today, Aug. 5.

The tax break is for most clothing, accessories and school supplies. But before you fill your shopping carts, consider the fine print of what's taxable and what's tax-exempt.

Do your homework in advance of your shopping trip, or click the link below from your smartphone while your out and about. Going to the Westfield Brandon shopping mall? Own an iPhone? Then download the newly upgraded and free Westfield App v2.0, available in the iTunes App Store.

• Check out the demonstration video for the Westfield app ugrade.

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A detailed list of clothing and accessory items that are taxable and tax-exempt during the tax-free period, if they are sold for $75 or less, is posted online by the Florida Department of Revenue. It is noted that the list is not all-inclusive.

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Here's a backgrounder to review:

A Quick Overview of the Sales Tax Holiday Exemptions:

Clothing exempt (and not exempt) from taxes:

• “. . . any article of wearing apparel, including all footwear (except skis, swim fins, roller blades and skates) . . . "

• “. . . does not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, handkerchiefs or sporting equipment.”

School supplies exempt from taxes:

• “. . .pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, notebook filler paper, legal pads, binders, lunch boxes, construction paper, markers, folders, poster board, composition books, poster paper, scissors, cellophane tape, glue, paste, rulers, computer disks, protractors, compasses and calculators."

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Don't miss, too, the hosted today, Aug. 5, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Campo Family YMCA at 3414 Culbreath Road, in the Greater Brandon community of Valrico. The annual event is hosted by the FishHawk Area Networking Group (FANG).

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