Report To The People

Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Would Benefit Mississippi Families

By Tommy Reynolds

I strongly supported the passage of HB 348. This Bill allows Mississippi to join many other states in providing for a sales tax holiday on clothing purchases during the “back to school” purchase period.

The Bill provides that retail sales of clothing or footwear will be exempt from sales tax if the price of the article is less than $100 and the sale takes place between the period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the last Friday in July and ending at 12 midnight the following Saturday. The sales tax exemption does not apply to jewelry, handbags, luggage, wallets, watches, briefcases, garment bags or items of that nature.

It is the intent of this provision to provide a “back to school” clothing sales tax exemption for Mississippi families. Families should not be overly burdened with the cost of clothing school children.

The first time period that this law will be effective to provide a tax break for purchase of clothing will be at 12:01 a.m. on this July 31st.

I strongly supported this exemption which passed the House with only 3 dissenting votes. Hopefully the Bill will not only help our school children, but it might also generate additional sales to businesses in our state from surrounding states on the tax holiday.

If I can be of any assistance to you please call on me. My phone number in Jackson during the session is (601) 359-3365. The phone number in my Charleston office is (662) 647-3203, and my residence phone number is (662) 473-2571. I can also be contacted by writing me at my home address of 15 CR 429, Water Valley, MS 38965, or at my office address of P.O. Box 220, Charleston, MS 38921.