Here's how to save on school supplies with Missouri's sales tax holiday

For 72 hours this weekend, Missouri students and their families can buy many school supplies without having to pay local and state sales tax.

The annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday in Missouri comes just a few weeks before the start of the 2024-25 school year. In Springfield, the first day is Monday, Aug. 19. In the area, nearly all districts return Aug. 19 or Aug. 20.

When is the sales tax holiday?

The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, and runs through midnight Sunday, Aug. 4.

During that period, certain back-to-school purchases such as school supplies, computers, clothing and other qualifying items are exempt from local and state sales tax.

Since 2023, in addition to the state sales tax, local sales tax will also be waived in all cities, counties and special tax districts.

What purchases are eligible?

A look at the purchases that qualify for the local and state sales tax exemption during the holiday:

• Clothing that has a taxable value of $100 or less. Eligible clothing can include any article of apparel worn on the body including footwear and disposable diapers for infants or adults;
• Cloth and other material used to make school uniforms or other school clothing;
• School supplies not exceeding $50 per purchase that are typically used for educational purchases including textbooks, notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, rulers, book bags, backpacks, chalk, maps, and globes;
• Calculators and graphing calculators that have a taxable value of $150 or less;
• Computer software with a taxable value of $350 or less;
• Personal computers that doe not cost more than $1,500 and computer peripheral devices that do not cost more than $1,500.

What purchases are not eligible?

Not included are watches, watchbands, jewelry, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, or belt buckles.

Who can make purchases?

Anyone who makes a qualified purchase may participate in the holiday. They do not have to be a Missouri resident or student to participate.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Here's how to save on school supplies with Missouri's sales tax holiday