Tennessee’s
second annual sales tax holiday is set for Aug. 3-5, offering three full days
of tax breaks for families preparing children to go back to school. This past
session the General Assembly expanded the sales tax holiday to include art
supplies such as clay and glazes; acrylic, tempera and oil paints; paintbrushes
for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors.
“These
sales tax holidays provide our students another means to excel in school,” said
Governor Phil Bredesen. “However, back-to-school
planning doesn’t stop with supplies. I hope parents will be sure to complete
their child’s preparation for school by enrolling him or her in CoverKids.”
From
12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, consumers may
purchase selected clothing, school supplies and art supplies under $100 and
computers $1,500 or less sales tax-free.
“Last
year’s inaugural holiday was extremely successful in giving back to
Tennesseans, providing nearly $15 million in tax savings to
Although
students and their families can save on back to school expenses, all
Tennesseans can enjoy exempt items during the holiday.
Shoppers
and retailers can find more information about the upcoming tax holiday at www.tntaxholiday.com, including lists
of exempt items, frequently asked questions and more. Assistance is available
via e-mail at Salestax.holiday@state.tn.us,
and through a toll-free statewide telephone hot line by calling (800) 342-1003. [Out-of-state and
Nashville-area callers, please dial (615) 253-0600.] Revenue will provide
call-center services throughout the three-day weekend, including extended hours
on Saturday and Sunday.
The
Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws
and motor vehicle title and registration laws established by the legislature
and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department
of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During
the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the department collected
$10.3 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes,
$1.8 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local
governments during the 2005-2006 fiscal year. Besides
collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and
impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The
department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various
state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department,
log on to www.Tennessee.gov/revenue.