Representative Ty Cobb

State Representative Ty Cobb ANNOUNCES SALES TAX HOLIDAY AUGUST 7 – 9

Exemptions include clothing, school supplies, art resources and personal computers

NASHVILLE – On Monday, State Representative Ty Cobb (D-Columbia) announced the fourth annual Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday would take place beginning Friday, August 7 and continuing through Sunday, August 9. Tennessee shoppers will have three full days of tax breaks on clothing, school and art supplies, and computer purchases.

“This annual event helps put money back in the pockets of hard working families trying to give their kids the best chance at a quality education,” said Ty Cobb. “However, everyone in the state can take advantage of the savings and that’s what makes this weekend great for all Tennesseans.

The holiday begins Friday, August 7 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 9 at 11:59 p.m. During the designated three-day weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on select clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less, a savings of nearly 10 percent on exempt items.

Examples of exempt items include:

· Clothing: Shirts, dresses, pants, coats, gloves and mittens, hats and caps, hosiery, neckties, belts, sneakers, shoes, uniforms whether athletic or non-athletic and scarves

·         School Supplies: Binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, rulers and scissors

·         Art Supplies: Clay and glazes; acrylic, tempera and oil paints; paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors

·         Computers: Central processing unit (CPU), along with various other components including monitor, keyboard, mouse, cables to connect components and preloaded software (Note: While the CPU may be purchased separately, other items must be part of a bundled computer package in order to be eligible.)

“People across Tennessee and right here at home are still struggling with a sluggish economy, and this sales tax holiday helps relieve a little bit of that stress,” said Ty Cobb. “The Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday helps put taxpayer money back into the pockets of taxpayers and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.”

Please visit the Sales Tax Holiday Web site at www.tntaxholiday.com to learn more about the items exempt from sales tax. The Tennessee Department of Revenue also assists consumers via e-mail, Salestax.Holiday@TN.gov, and through its toll-free statewide telephone hot line, (800) 342-1003. Staff is available to answer questions Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. (Out-of-state and Nashville-area callers, please dial (615) 253-0600.)

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