Sales Tax Holiday
To Be Held July 30 – 31
Last year’s wildly successful Sales Tax Holiday is scheduled to be repeated this year on Friday July 30th and Saturday July 31st.
This legislation that became law in 2009 exempts from sales tax all articles of footwear and clothing priced below $100. There is no limit on the number of articles that can be purchased.
Last year’s holiday produced “Christmas-sized crowds” at a time when retail sales are usually very slow. For one weekend a year, shoppers can purchase goods without having to pay the state’s 7-percent markup.
The legislation offered an “opt out” provision for cities that didn’t wish to participate after the first year. The State Tax Commission reports that 14 small municipalities chose not to participate this year. They are Artesia, Bolton, Crenshaw, Enterprise, Fayette, Guntown, Heidelberg, Leland, Lumberton, Magnolia, Meadville, Purvis, Sherman and Thaxton.
Biloxi’s mayor and City Council had opted out, but changed their minds when citizens and retailers voiced their overwhelming support for this much-needed tax break during these tough economic times.
This year, legislation was introduced to add back-to-school supplies to the exempt list, however, it failed to gain the support needed to become law. The Mississippi Senate will re-introduce this measure in 2011 for the benefit of our citizens. I hope all Mississippians will take advantage of the Sales Tax Holiday, and make it more successful than it was last year.
Sincerely,
Senator Walter Michel
District 25
Magnolia Tribune
