Tax-free weekend for school supplies is back; starting Aug. 7
Kansas City-area shoppers who have been frustrated by this pandemic will get some welcome relief in stores and online during Missouri’s tax-free weekend.
The 2020 version of this annual holiday kicks off at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 7 and runs through midnight Sunday, Aug. 9. During this time, shoppers will save the Missouri state sales tax of 4.225% and city tax of 3.25%.
Even with the uncertainty of when and how school districts re-open, folks who want to stock up on supplies will reap the benefits on purchases they know they'll need at some point.
Online purchases will also qualify for tax exemption, provided you pay in full during the holiday. They can be delivered later, though. And if you've already put an item on layaway and make the final payment during the tax free weekend in Missouri, that product will be exempt. However, if you just put an item on layaway during the event, you'll still have to pay sales tax.
For more details, visit the Missouri DOR FAQ page.
The sales tax exemption is limited to:
Clothing – any article having a taxable value of $100 or less
School supplies – not to exceed $50 per purchase
Computer software – taxable value of $350 or less
Personal computers – not to exceed $1,500
Computer peripheral devices – not to exceed $1,500
Graphing Calculators - not to exceed $150
Qualifying Items include things like clothing intended to be worn as part of school uniforms, disposable diapers, notebooks, paper, backpacks, personal computers, and many others.
Some taxing jurisdictions are not participating in the sales tax holiday, but the state’s portion of the tax rate will remain exempt for the sale of qualifying items.
Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass counties are participating, and most area municipalities are also waiving their tax this weekend.
For more information, visit the Missouri Department of Revenue, www.dor.mo.gov.