MD Tax-Free Week: Backpacks Now Included

MD Tax Free Week:
Backpacks Now Added to the List of Tax-Free Items

Mark your calendars for Maryland’s Annual Tax-Free Week! This event will be held in stores statewide from August 13th to 19th. During this time, there will be no sales tax on qualifying clothing or footwear, priced at $100 or less. Such items include, but are not limited to, shirts, slacks, jeans, dresses, robes, underwear, belts, shoes, and boots.

Each qualifying article of clothing or footwear selling for $100 or less will be exempt from taxes, regardless of how many items are sold at the same time. For example, two $60 sweaters sold at the same time are both exempt, even though the total purchase is more than $100.

In addition to these items, I fronted a bill that passed this past session titled Sales and Use Tax – Tax-Free Period for Back-to-School Shopping – Sale of Backpacks and Bookbags (SB622).This allows backpacks and bookbags to be added to the list of tax-free items during Maryland’s tax-free week. The first $40 of any backpack or bookbag will, as of this year, now be qualified as tax-free, allowing you and your family more flexibility when it comes to back-to-school shopping.

As both a mother and a grandmother, I understand the need for affordable back-to-school supplies, and knew how important it was to get backpacks and bookbags added to Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot’s list of approved tax-free items.

For more information on Maryland’s tax-free week, please visit www.marylandtaxes.com or call 1-800-MD TAXES. Happy shopping!