I was just asking around the other day when it would be and this majically
appeared in my e-mail ;0) Perhaps you were wondering also...

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~

Sales Tax Holiday - August 6-8
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> By Grace Cheng
> AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
> Saturday, July 31, 2004
>
> The sixth annual sales tax holiday is coming to a store near you next
> weekend.
>
> Clothing, footwear and other items under $100 will be exempt from sales
> taxes, which the state estimates will save consumers about $46 million.
>
> "This is a much-needed and well-deserved tax break for hard-working Texas
> families," Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said Friday. "It lets
> families keep more of their dollars in their pockets for their families'
> priorities."
>
> Strayhorn said that consumers have saved $193 million to date from
tax-free
> holidays.
>
> Items such as diapers and underwear will be tax-free for three days,
> starting Friday, so retailers are expecting crowds to rival those of the
day
> after Thanksgiving.
>
> "It's a great boost for retailers in the middle of the year," said Chuck
> Courtney, president of the Texas Retailers Association. "It stimulates
other
> sales as well. I think a lot of people take advantage of it."
>
> Retailers are hiring extra employees, beefing up inventory and extending
> their hours to accommodate the slew of shoppers. At Barton Creek Square
> mall, many retailers add other promotions and sales, as well, said
> spokeswoman Carmen Soto.
>
> The Prime and Tanger outlet centers in San Marcos will be opening their
> doors earlier; many of their stores will be open through the entire
holiday.
>
> Although the sales-tax holiday is actually costing the state and cities
> money in lost taxes, the program is extremely popular.
>
> In fact, Courtney said that the holiday helps other businesses.
>
> "(Consumers) take the money they saved at the holiday and use it somewhere
> else," Courtney said.
>
> Strayhorn advocates expanding the tax-free list and the length of the
> holiday to five days.
>
> "There is no reason for a three-day traffic jam," Strayhorn said.
>
> The program has been criticized for some of the items that are included or
> excluded from the list of exemptions. Strayhorn said that the list of
> tax-free items ought to include back-to-school items and safety products
> such as backpacks and children's car seats. She said that consumers will
> save another $25 million per year if these items are included in the
> sales-tax holiday.
>
> Such changes to the tax holiday would have to be approved by the
> Legislature.
>
> Families with school children will spend an average of $483.28 on
> back-to-school items, up 7.2 percent from $450.76 last year, according to
> the National Retail Federation Back-to-School Consumer Intentions and
> Actions Survey. Combined, adults will spend $14.79 billion sending their
> kids back to elementary, middle and high schools this year, the study
shows.
>
> For a list of tax-exempt products, visit the Texas comp- troller's office
> site at www .window.state.tx.us or call (800) 252-5555.
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>
> Below is a selected list of items and their exemption status during the
> sales tax holiday.
>
> ***** TAX-FREE *****
>
> Baby clothes
> Belts with attached buckles
> Boots - cowboy, hiking
> Caps/hats - baseball, fishing, golf, knitted
> Coats and wraps
> Diapers - adult and baby
> Dresses
> Gloves (generally)
> Gym suits and uniforms
> Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
> Hosiery
> Jackets
> Jeans
> Jerseys - baseball and football
> Jogging apparel
> Neckwear and ties
> Pajamas
> Pants and trousers
> Raincoats and ponchos
> Robes
> Shirts
> Shoes - sandals, slippers, sneakers, tennis, walking
> Socks (including athletic)
> Shorts
> Suits, slacks, and jackets
> Sweatshirts
> Sweat suits
> Sweaters
> Swimsuits
> Underclothes
> Work clothes and uniforms
>
> ***** TAXED *****
Accessories (generally) - barrettes, elastic ponytail holders, wallets,
watches
Backpacks
Baseball cleats and pants
Belt buckles (without belt)
Boots - climbing, fishing, rubber work boots, ski, waders
Buttons and zippers
Cloth and lace, knitting yarns, and other fabrics
Dry cleaning services
Football pants
Golf gloves
Handbags and purses
Handkerchiefs
Hard hats
Helmets - bike, baseball, football, hockey, motorcycle, sports
Ice skates
Jewelry
Laundering services
Leather goods - except belts with buckles and wearing apparel
Pads - football, hockey, soccer, elbow, knee, shoulder
Personal flotation devices
Rented clothing (including uniforms, formal wear, and costumes)
Roller blades and skates
Safety clothing, glasses
Shoes - bicycle (cleated), bowling, golf