Maryland Tax Free Weekend

Maryland residents can benefit from a weekend without taxes in August this year. Buying clothing, back-to-school supplies, and other necessities for you and your family during this time will save you money. Here are some pointers on how to maximize your purchase.

Back-to-school shopping

If you are a Maryland resident, you are entitled to a week of tax-free shopping during August. You may purchase various items during the tax holiday, including clothing, shoes, and backpacks. This week-long event is designed to help families save money for the upcoming school year.

The sale of these items will be exempt from the state’s 6% sales tax usually charged. For example, a pair of tennis shoes priced at $100 or less will not be subject to the 6% sales tax.

Another example of qualifying items includes sports uniforms. Backpacks are also tax-exempt during the Maryland tax-free weekend.

A variety of other items, such as athletic socks and sports braces, are also exempt. Many stores offer additional discounts during this tax-free week but checking the rules before buying is essential.

Appliances

Maryland has a tax-free weekend for energy-efficient appliances. It started in 2011 and has since grown in popularity. This year’s tax-free weekend is February 19-21, 2024. You can save an estimated 6% on eligible energy star appliances.

The ENERGY STAR program is a government initiative that certifies energy-efficient appliances. Products bearing the ENERGY STAR label are rated based on their performance in various categories. In 2018, ENERGY STAR-certified products helped save more than 150 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Combined with other energy-saving measures, such as conservation, ENERGY STAR-certified products saved more than 200 billion kWh of electricity. Purchasing an ENERGY STAR-rated appliance is not only good for the environment, but it’s also good for your wallet.

Clothing

For the past 13 years, Maryland has offered a sales tax holiday to promote back-to-school shopping. Now, it’s one of the best times of the year to buy back-to-school essentials.

This year, the holiday is expected to save families with children in grades kindergarten through high school an average of $168. The list of items included in the tax-free week provides clothing, footwear, backpacks, and school supplies.

Many retailers offer special sales to encourage shoppers to make their purchases in the weeks leading up to the start of the tax-free week. Most stores will also have coupons and promo codes to take advantage of the tax-free opportunity. You can use these to save even more money.

Maryland offers a more than 6% sales tax discount on purchasing some of the essential back-to-school items. It includes various things like winter coats, sports apparel, and sneakers. Some stores may also offer additional savings on top of the tax savings.

Backpacks

The annual Maryland tax-free week is just around the corner. This week, shoppers can get a tax break on items like backpacks and winter coats. However, consumers have a little less than a week to take advantage of the tax-free week before the sales tax kicks in. Fortunately, there are plenty of tax-free options to choose from.

Maryland’s sales tax-free week runs from August 14 to August 20. A variety of items are eligible for this year’s sales tax holiday, including sneakers, shoes, bathing suits, and winter coats. Among the more intriguing is a tax break on a backpack. Backpacks under $40 are free of state sales tax, while higher-priced models still qualify for the elusive tax break.

To determine whether you qualify for this year’s tax-free week, visit your local Maryland State Comptroller office. The office collects state and local taxes for the state’s residents.

Exempt items from the tax

In August, the sales tax holiday in Maryland gives families a chance to get back to school supplies and other items without paying a sales tax. The holiday starts on Sunday and runs through the following Saturday.

To qualify for the exemption, the items on your list must be under $100. Items under $100 include clothes, footwear, school supplies, and household supplies. However, some things, such as purses, are still taxable.

While many retailers will provide discounts to bring the price of clothing and other items down to a hundred dollars, it’s important to remember that the sales tax applies.

Aside from taxable items, certain items are also exempt from the sales tax. These items include sports apparel, tennis shoes, and athletic socks.

Here is when Maryland goes on a tax free weekend and the included items that are included with their limits.

Maryland Tax Free Weekend runs from August 8 to August 14.

The tax free weekend covers clothing and footwear for up to $100 and backpacks for up to $40. These are per item. So, if you purchase two running shoes that are both $100, you get the sales tax waived on both of them. 

The list of covered items under clothing and footwear also includes the following items.

• Baby diapers
• Adult diapers
• Bathrobes
• Bridal gowns and dresses
• Prom dresses
• Dry-cleaning services
• Costumes

As for the next year’s sales tax free weekend, it’s anticipated to be around the same time of the year – or at least during the back to school season.