NC sales tax holiday weekend set for Aug. 3

North Carolina’s annual sales tax holiday runs the weekend of Aug. 3 – 5, the state Department of Revenue announced Monday.

The popular event, which began in 2002, exempts clothing, footwear, and school supplies of $100 or less per item; school instructional materials of $300 or less per item; sports and recreational equipment of $50 or less per item; computers of $3,500 or less per item; and computer supplies of $250 or less per item.

Tablet computers and netbooks of $3,500 or less per item qualify, but eReaders do not.

The holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday and lasts until 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Participation in the sales tax holiday is required. Retailers cannot opt out or charge sales tax and tell shoppers to request a refund from the Department of Revenue.

Items are not necessarily exempt from sales tax just because they are required by a child’s school or sports team.