For Immediate Release
Date: July 31, 2007
Contact: Maura Browning
Phone: (573) 751-8222
Blunt Encourages Missouri Families to Take Advantage of Sales Tax Holiday
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt is encouraging all Missouri families preparing to send their children back to school to take advantage of Missouri's annual sales tax holiday August 3 through August 5, when items often called "back to school supplies" can be purchased tax-free. Certain clothing, school supplies, personal computers, and software are exempt from the state sales tax of 4.225 percent during the holiday.
"As Missouri families prepare to send their children back to school we are preparing to give them a back to school tax cut," Blunt said. "The tax holiday is a great opportunity for Missourians to buy school supplies and other necessities for their children while saving some of their hard earned money. I want to encourage all parents and caregivers to take advantage of the upcoming tax free holiday."
The sales tax exemption applies 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; and
- Personal computers and computer peripheral devices - not to exceed $3,500.
Generally, "clothing" is wearing apparel, including footwear and material used to make school uniforms or other school clothing. "School supplies" are any items normally used by students in a standard classroom for educational purposes, such as textbooks, notebooks, rulers, book bags, or calculators. "Personal computers" includes laptops, desktops, and other related features such as disk drives, memory modules, and printers. Section 144.049, RSMo, contains a more detailed description of tax-exempt items.
Local tax jurisdictions have the option of participating in the sales tax holiday. While the state sales tax will be exempt in all counties in Missouri, cities, counties, and other taxing districts that choose not to participate will collect local sales tax. This year, 169 cities, 51 counties, and five taxing districts have opted out of participating in the sales tax holiday. In those areas, during the sales tax holiday, the local tax will be collected while the state portion will not. A full list of non-participating cities, counties, and districts is listed on the Missouri Department of Revenue's website at www.dor.mo.gov.
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