Representative Bohac Encourages Families to Take Advantage of Annual Sales Tax Holiday

AUSTIN, TX – State Representative Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) is encouraging Texas families to take advantage of this year's Sales Tax Holiday. During the annual Sales Tax Holiday, which runs from August 20 – 22nd, Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales taxes.

As in previous years, most clothing and footwear costing less than $100 is exempt. In an effort to help families prepare their children for the new school year, Rep. Bohac authored, and the Texas Legislature passed HB 1801 in 2009 which expands the list of this year’s exempt items to include most school supplies and backpacks. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates that Bohac’s bill will save Texas families $9.5 million each year. Overall, the comptroller estimates that families will save over $59.3 million in state and local sales tax.

“As the father of four school age children, I understand the importance of preparing our children for the new school year by purchasing essential school supplies,” said Bohac. “I also understand how costly it can be, and that’s why I authored legislation to add school supplies to the list of items that are exempt during the annual Sales Tax Holiday. This will help Texas families get the supplies their children need, and it also helps the Texas economy by encouraging more people to get out and buy essential items.”

Below is the list of items that are exempt during the Annual Sales Tax Holiday that runs from August 20 – 22nd.

School Supplies that are exempt from sales tax:

• Binders
• Book bags
• Calculators
• Cellophane tape
• Blackboard chalk
• Compasses
• Composition books
• Crayons
• Erasers
• Folders
• Glue, paste and paste sticks
• Highlighters
• Index cards
• Index card boxes
• Legal pads
• Lunch boxes
• Markers
• Notebooks
• Paper
• Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
• Pencil sharpeners
• Pencils
• Pens
• Protractors
• Rulers
• Scissors
• Writing tablets

Clothes that are exempt from sales tax:

• Baby clothes
• Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students
• Belts with attached buckles
• Boots
• Caps/hats
• Coats and wraps
• Diapers - adult and baby
• Dresses
• Gloves
• Gym suits and uniforms
• Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
• Hosiery
• Jackets
• Jeans
• Jerseys - baseball and football
• Jogging apparel
• Neckwear and ties
• Pajamas
• Pants and trousers
• Raincoats and ponchos
• Robes
• Shirts
• Shoes
• Socks
• Shorts
• Suits, slacks, and jackets
• Sweatshirts
• Sweat suits
• Sweaters
• Swimsuits
• Underclothes
• Work clothes and uniforms