Sales tax discount offered in state

The end of summer usually signals back-to-school preparation that almost always includes shopping for shoes and clothing.Mississippi has decided to give residents relief in the form of the sales tax holiday again this year.From midnight Friday through midnight Saturday, shoppers will receive a 7 percent sales tax discount on clothing and footwear that costs less than $100 per item.

Accessories such as jewelry, handbags, wallets, watches, backpacks and similar items do not qualify for the exemption. Cleats, other athletic or recreational activity and other sample items also are not eligible. School supplies and computers are not included.This is the fourth consecutive year the state has offered the sales tax exemption.The cities of Enterprise, Heidelberg and Crenshaw will not participate in the exemptions and will charge sales tax on all retail sales of clothing and footwear.

Because stores aren't required to report tax exempt sales, Kathy Waterbury, spokeswoman with the Mississippi Department of Revenue, said there's no indication of how retailers fare each year."The sales tax holiday is like the day after Thanksgiving," said Ron Aldridge, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business."It gets people fired up and in the mood to shop, and that's exactly what our economy needs right now, especially with the additional savings to individuals and families for needed clothing and footwear," he said.