For the first time ever, Illinois will join other states in offering a state sales tax holiday when purchasing items designated during the upcoming 10-day period.  Parents getting ready to send children back to school will certainly benefit from this state sales tax reprieve saving sales tax on such items as clothing, footwear and school supplies. Computers are excluded. The tax holiday runs from August 6-15 and it is anticipated that the holiday will boost Illinois businesses and retail sales statewide.

Virtually all supplies are included in the tax holiday including book bags, binders, crayons, erasers, glue, pencils, notebook paper, scissors, supply boxes, writing tablets and more. Clothing must cost less than $100 per item, such as shoes, coats, rainwear, uniforms, pants, dresses, hats, neckties, skirts, hosiery and even rubber pants. During the holiday, the 5 percent state portion of sales taxes collected at retail registers will be waived, while local government sales taxes will continue to be collected.

To learn more about the state sales tax holiday, see the Illinois Department of Revenue flyer promoting the complete list of what is eligible at: http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Publications/Bulletins/2010/FY-2010-17.pdf.