Summer vacation is coming to an end, and the Mississippi sales tax holiday has proven to be beneficial to local residents and boutiques.
A sales tax holiday is a temporary period when sales taxes are not collected or paid on purchases of specific products and/or services, according to the Mississippi Department of Revenue website.
“According to the Mississippi Sales Tax Holiday passed in the 2009 Legislative Session, sales tax is not due on the sale of articles of clothing or footwear if the sales price of a single item is less than $100,” as stated on the department of revenue website.
The holiday began at 12:01 a.m. on July 28 and went to midnight on July 29, with accessories such as jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, backpacks, briefcases and similar items not qualifying for the Sales Tax Holiday, according to the department of revenue website.
Cheryl Bailey, owner of Special Treasures Winona Floral, said the people at the store prepare for the sales tax holiday each year.
“I believe it brought in business for people to save that extra money,” said Bailey. “We had a sale too, so the tax free holiday and the sale gave us a boost in revenue.”
A number of customers visited various businesses during the holiday, which led some to Whitney’s in Vaiden where they also were able to purchase autumn attire, according to owner Susan Welch.
“We did have a big crowd. We had a good turn out,” said Welch. “We were transitioning from summer to fall. We had a lot of summer items on sale and a lot of new fall items out.”
Jaime Carpenter, owner of Jaime Lynn’s in Carrollton, said July is a tough month for the sale of apparel, and the sales tax holiday benefits parents, who are shopping for school clothes, teachers and shop owners.
“As far as the holiday, I think it really benefits [stores selling] the school uniforms,” said Carpenter, adding she is anticipating the fall, when teachers and girls begin looking for something fresh.
Mississippi Legislators set the sales tax holiday weekend several years ago to help people save a percentage on shopping for school attire, and several other states, including Alabama, have implemented a sales tax holiday, according to the Associated Press.
