Shoppers take advantage of sales-tax free weekend

The Target located in Cary Crossroads Plaza was seeing two-to-three times its normal traffic, spokeswoman Stephanie Perryman said Friday.

Posted 10:31 p.m. Aug 7, 2009 — Updated 2:45 a.m. Aug 8, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — Shoppers on Friday began taking advantage of the state’s annual sales-tax holiday.

The tax-free weekend ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

The Target located in Cary Crossroads Plaza was seeing two to three times its normal traffic, spokeswoman Stephanie Perryman said Friday.

“The guests are very well educated on when tax-free is and where to go,” Perryman said.

Beverly Baker brought her children to the store so they could help pick out school supplies. “It has saved us tremendously,” Baker said.

Teacher Mary Lutz saved money on supplies for her classroom.

“I can get crayons for 25 cents and then you don’t have to pay taxes on that,” Lutz said. “It really saves.”

The annual tax holiday was started several years ago to help families purchasing back-to-school supplies, but it also includes other merchandise.

Computers are tax free up to $3,500, as are sporting goods up to $50 and clothing up to $100. School supplies that cost less than $100 dollars, including instructional materials like globes and maps, also are tax free.

The tax holiday cost the state $19.8 million last year, according to Department of Revenue spokesman Thomas Beam.

Although Washington, D.C., canceled its sales-tax holiday, a spokeswoman for Gov. Beverly Perdue said there was no discussion during recent budget negotiations to cancel North Carolina's tax-free weekend. Spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson noted that the annual tax-free weekend is written into state law, and legislators would have had to approve another measure to override it.

Suggest A Correction