Back To School Already... ?
New Tax Breaks May Apply !

Actually many of us are Back To School already...

We have some form of year round, multi-track or single track program in our school district that keeps us always "Going To School."

Over 3,000 schools have year-round education programs.

That's less than four percent of all schools, but it's four times the number of students in year-round schools a decade ago.

Have you heard about the addition of 4 new states who provide... tax breaks for back to school shoppers ?

It's just about time for the children to head back to school and for some parents, this will come as a bit of a relief.

With school in session, the kids will be fully occupied. But most parents are probably seeing dollar signs.

The cost of clothes, books and supplies can add up quickly. Well, many states sponsor tax holidays.

For a short period of time, you don't pay state tax on certain purchases.

The items covered by the tax holidays vary from state to state.

Now Hear This... your school spirit may be showing and it's worth a FREE theme.

You may want to let parents, grandparents, PTA's etc... know about this back to school program in your next school newsletter.

While most students in the U.S. are dusting off their book-bags and thinking about going back to school, and the exciting school theme you've picked, some students have been sitting in class all summer.

Some feel that students and teachers, refreshed by more frequent breaks, will not get burnt-out as easily.

Some teachers also complain that on traditional schedules, with long summer breaks, when students get back to school, too much time is spent reviewing in the fall, after many students have forgotten what they learned the previous year.

Also, many immigrant children fall behind because they are not exposed to English during the long summer breaks.

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In 2006, thirteen states offer some back to school sales-tax exemption beginning in the summer months, some as early as July.

Parents may benefit from checking to see if their state is one sponsoring a tax holiday for back to school shopping.

The tax information firm CCH, reports that all 13 states (identified below) and the District of Columbia offer sales-tax waivers on everything from clothing and shoes to school supplies and computers.

New York, which launched the first-ever back to school program in 1997 and has since offered a sales tax break on certain items year-round, has turned other states onto the concept.

In 2006 four new states were added - Alabama, Maryland, Tennessee and Virginia - and offer their own version of a "back to school" sales tax holiday.

According to a study by the National Retail Federation, back to school spending by American families is expected to reach $17.6 billion in 2006. And that's up over 30 percent from 2005.

Now that's a real reason to celebrate school spirit !

All buyers should be careful to check to make sure their purchases are covered by the tax holiday provisions in their state.

Get Your Favorite School Theme Today!

Get Your Theme!

AND MORE!

Listed below are the different states offering back to school tax holidays, the dates of the tax break and what items qualify. As of 2006)

Always be sure to check for current information and we'll be sure to update here as new data becomes available.

Alabama Dates: August 4-6 Items covered: Clothing priced at $100 or less, school supplies valued at $50 or less and books under $30 each. A single purchase costing $750 of computers, software and school computer supplies is also covered.

Connecticut Dates: August 20-26 Items covered: Clothing and shoes that sell for under $300. The tax break does not cover athletic or protective clothing and footwear, jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets and watches.

District of Columbia Dates: August 5-13 Items covered: School supplies, clothing, accessories and shoes that cost $100 or less.

Florida Dates: July 22-30 Items covered: Books, clothes, shoes and certain accessories priced at $50 or less are exempt, as well as school supplies priced at $10 or less per item.

Georgia Dates: August 3-6 Items covered: Certain school supplies worth up to $20 each, and clothing and footwear valued at $100 or less are exempt. Computers, computer-related accessories and energy-efficient products priced at $1,500 or less are also exempt.

Iowa Dates: August 4-5 Items covered: No sales tax will be collected on clothing or footwear that sells for $100 or less per item, although accessories are not covered.

Maryland Dates: August 23-27 Items covered: Clothes and footwear priced at $100 or less.

Missouri Dates: August 4-6 Items covered: Clothing and footwear except for certain accessories that are priced at $100 or less, school supplies costing $50 or less, computer software with a taxable value of $350 or less, and personal computers and computer peripherals that retail for $3,500 or less.

New Mexico Dates: August 4-6 Items covered: Clothing or shoes under $100, computers retailing for $1,000 or less, and any associated monitor, speakers, printer or related items that sells for no more than $500. School supplies priced under $15, bookbags, backpacks, handheld calculators, maps and globes priced under $100 are also covered.

North Carolina Dates: August 4-6 Items covered: Clothing and school supplies priced at $100 or less are exempt from taxes, as are sports and recreation equipment that costs under $50, and computers priced at $3,500 or less. Clothing accessories, protective equipment, furniture and rentals not covered.

South Carolina Dates: August 4-6 Items covered: Clothing, clothing accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers, printers, printer supplies, computer software and linens for the bed and bath qualify for the sales tax exemption. Jewelry, cosmetics and furniture, are not covered.

Tennessee Dates: August 4-6 Items covered: Clothing and school supplies priced at $100 or less, as well as computers retailing below $1,500 are also covered.

Texas Dates: August 4-6 Items covered: Most clothing and footwear priced at less than $100 are exempt from state and local sales taxes. Athletic or protective clothing and footwear are ineligible for the exemption. Clothing accessories and rentals are excluded from the holiday.

Virginia Dates: August 4-6 Items covered: Sales of clothing and footwear costing $100 or less are covered under the tax holiday, as well as school supplies valued under $20.

Year-round schooling continues to be controversial in almost every school district. Districts from New York to Los Angeles are experimenting with new calendars and hoping to make positive changes to improve student performance.

Long term, it's hard to know whether the idea will become more popular or less as parents and administrators try to figure out the best solution.

Supporters say year-round systems improve academic performance. They point to Japan, where student scores are higher than those in the U.S. and where students attend classes 220 days a year on average, as opposed to 180 days in America.

But there is still plenty of debate.

We continue to suggest school themes are a popular way to unify staff and students... And hopefully your theme team is raring to go... that's a winning combination that will help BOOST your school spirit.

Leave Back to School and Select Your School Theme!

Back To School Already... ? New Tax Breaks May Apply !

Get Your Theme!

AND MORE!

Back To School Already... ?
New Tax Breaks May Apply !