Tax takes a holiday

Maybe the best thing about going back to school is getting to buy all new supplies. New crayon smell, anyone?

That task will be cheaper this weekend as both Tennessee and Georgia have declared sales tax holidays on school gear and clothing.

In Georgia, the tax reprieve lasts 48 hours, from midnight Saturday, July 30, through midnight Sunday, July 31. Tennessee shoppers get an extra day, with the freeze starting at midnight, Friday, July 29.

Alabama, meanwhile, will hold its sales tax holiday the following weekend, from midnight Friday, Aug. 5, to midnight Sunday, Aug. 7.

In Georgia, sales tax exemptions apply to clothing and footwear priced at less than $100, school supplies costing less than $20 and computers and software under $1,000. In Tennessee, the limits are $100 on clothing, $100 on school supplies and $1,500 on computers. In Alabama, clothing must be priced less than $100, computers less than $750 and school supplies less than $50 to be tax-free.

In all three states, sales tax will still be charged on items such as jewelry, purses, umbrellas, wallets and watches.

To see the full list of taxable and nontaxable merchandise, visit each state’s Department of Revenue site: Tennessee: www.tn.gov/revenue/article/ sales-tax-holiday Georgia: https://dor. georgia.gov/press-releases/2016-04-27/2016-salestax-holidays

Alabama: http:// revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/salestaxhol.cfm

NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

Tennessee: clothing, $100; school supplies, $100;

computers, $1,500

Georgia: clothing, $100; school supplies, $20; computers, $1,000

Alabama: clothing, $100; school supplies, $50; computers, $750