As the calendar flips to the end of July, Tennesseans are seizing the opportunity to shop without the weight of sales tax on their wallets. In a yearly reprieve designed to ease the financial pressure of back-to-school preparations, Tennessee's tax-free weekend is now underway. From now until Sunday, East Tennesseans can stock up on school necessities and save some green at the same time, WVLT reports.
The relief came into effect just as the clock struck midnight on July 26, extending until the stroke of midnight on July 28, offering a window of reprieve to families and students gearing up for the new school year; clothing, school supplies, and art items priced under $100 enjoy this exemption, while tech aficionados can relish the savings on laptops and electronics tagged under $1,500. FOX13 notes the stark boundary - items over these price points do not benefit from the tax holiday, indicating the necessity of price-awareness during this shopping spree.
Local store managers, perhaps as expectant as the shoppers themselves, have been stocking up to ensure an abundant supply of goods. "We’ve got a lot of positive feedback for tax free weekend," Timothy Stewart, a Walmart manager, told WVLT "Me, I actually have four children as well so I have two boys and I have two girls. We also like to take advantage of the tax free weekend so that it makes it more affordable when it is time to go back." The rush is not just a boon for wallets but also for retailers, who see a significant uptick in traffic akin to the shopping frenzy usually reserved for Black Friday - minus the festive decor.
Amidst the aisles, voices of relief ring, as this weekend serves as a balm for the oftentimes high costs associated with education. "Obviously anytime you can save money it’s a benefit," said Mitch Townley, a local shopper, in a discussion captured by WVLT, "I’ve got two daughters and seven grandchildren, I know they’re going to be going out cause there is a lot of money to be spent on school supplies and such." With savings amplified by the tax holiday, families are expecting to spend on average $875 for K-12 and close to $1,500 for college-related school gear, as projected by the National Retail Federation.
For those who prefer online shopping the convenience hasn't been overlooked, as department stores are sure to extend these savings to their websites too, ensuring that digital carts filled with pencils, shoes, and laptops can check out tax-free, according to findings by WBBJTV. And the collective sigh of budget-conscious parents echoes a greater fiscal relief, with an average of $10 million dollars being saved across Tennessee during this advantageous weekend, the Tennessee Department of Revenue reports.
