Tax Free Weekend helps with school shopping costs | News, Sports, Jobs

With the beginning of August, the dwindling days of summer vacation come for local students. Nowadays it seems all the more so that lessons begin earlier and earlier in many districts. Remember when the school year started after Labor Day? We do. Hardly.

Of course, now is the time for parents, grandparents, and guardians to shop for school, including supplies and clothing. A staff member at the newspaper spent well over $ 100 on school supplies last week, based on a list his fourth grade grandchild provided from their school. That didn’t include a new backpack.

Buyers have a little break this weekend. Ohio hosts its annual Tax Free Weekend. It started at midnight today and will last until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. It is a tax break for the most commonly used school supplies.

State and local sales and use taxes are waived on clothing of $ 75 per item or less; School supplies priced at $ 20 each or less; and school teaching materials at a cost of $ 20 each or less. Goods that were purchased for commercial or commercial use are excluded from the VAT exemption.

For the sake of clarity, the Ohio Department of Taxation defines school supplies as: folders, book bags, calculators, cellophane tape, blackboard chalk, compasses, composition books, colored pencils, erasers, folders (expandable, bags, plastic and manila), glue, glue sticks, highlighters, index cards, Index card boxes, notepads, lunch boxes, markers, notebooks, paper, lined notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster cardboard, craft paper, pencil boxes, other boxes for school supplies, pencil sharpeners, pencils, pens, protractors, rulers, scissors and writing boards . In other words: school supplies.

Clothing includes, among other things, shirts, blouses, sweaters, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, uniforms (sporty and non-sporty), shoes and laces, insoles for shoes, sneakers, sandals, boots, overshoes, slippers, steel toe shoes, underwear, socks and stockings, hosiery, tights, socks, coats and jackets, rainwear, gloves and mittens for general use, hats and caps, earmuffs, belts and suspenders, ties, scarves, aprons (household and shop), lab coats, sports suits, bathing suits and caps, beach capes and coats, costumes, baby blankets, diapers, children and adults, including disposable diapers; Rubber pants, garters and garter belts, bodices; formal dress; and wedding dresses.

The idea is mainly geared towards school time. With many families relying on charitable causes to provide their children with the supplies they need most, it makes sense to take the pressure off those who can pay but whose budgets are tight at this time of year. Especially given the economic consequences of COVID that many are facing.

It should also give a little break to many school teachers who equip their classrooms out of their own pocket. According to the National Education Association Foundation and the Economic Policy Institute, more than 90 percent of public school teachers in the United States each spend about $ 460 out of their own pockets on school supplies with no refunds. It is $ 444 in Ohio, $ 333 in West Virginia, and $ 420 in Pennsylvania.

The three day holiday weekend in Pennsylvania ends on Sunday and the four day holiday weekend in West Virginia runs through Monday.

When it comes to government, every good deed has a price, and VAT exemption is no exception. The Ohio Legislative Services Commission estimated that the 2018 weekend tax break cost Ohio about $ 15.2 million, while local governments suffered as much as $ 3.7 million.

Still, a little relief should help retailers and ease the wallet in our region in August.

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