Save money during the 2019 tax-free weekend
With summer half-way over, teachers and families are gearing up for the 2019-2020 school year. Many popular retailers offer discounts as families and teachers begin shopping for school supplies.
During the tax-free holiday, back-toschool and other items are exempt from sales tax.
Here is what you need to know to save money in the Memphis area during the back-to-school season:
Deals on School Supplies
Barnes & Nobles offers a 20 percent discount for educators on books and other materials used in the classroom.
At Michael's craft store, teachers are eligible for a 15 percent discount on all items.
Apple has special education pricing for computers and other electronics, available to faculty, staff, and homeschooling teachers at all grade levels, as well as college students and their parents.
Other stores like Office Depot and The Container Store offer exclusive discounts for teachers when signing up for rewards programs. The Container Store's Memphis location does not open until September, but online shopping is available.
On July 23, from 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. there will be a Teachers' Appreciation Night at local Walmart stores. The event includes free food & beverages, along with free bags for the first 300 teachers.
A valid school ID or proof of employment is required for both online and instore purchases for the above deals.
Tax-free Weekend
The tax-free holiday begins on Friday, July 26 and ends on Sunday, July 28 at midnight. According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, items that can be purchased without tax are: ❚ Items of clothing under $100 each ❚ School supplies and art supplies under $100 for each item
❚ Computers costing $1,500 or less
Items like backpacks, overalls, wedding gowns and religious garments are eligible for tax exemption, so long as each item is less than $100.
Other items like cosmetics, handbags, jewelry, and smartphones are not included in the tax-free weekend and will have standard taxes applied.
For more information on the tax free holiday and qualifying items, visit www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/sales-anduse-tax/sales-tax-holiday.html.
Back to School Basics
While each school and grade level require different classroom supplies, these are some basic items that schoolchildren might need: ❚ Pens and No. 2 pencils ❚ Wide or college-ruled notebook paper ❚ Folders and/or binders ❚ Pouch for pens and pencils ❚ Highlighters ❚ Crayons, colored pencils, markers, etc.
❚ Notebook(s)