Local Back-to-School Shoppers Will See Some Tax Savings Aug. 5 – 7

If you’re in the market for clothes, shoes, school supplies or computers, this weekend is the time to buy.

That’s when Missouri is holding its annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, saving shoppers 4.225 percent in state sales tax on certain items. It begins at midnight Friday, Aug. 5 and ends at midnight Sunday, Aug. 7.

Cities and counties within the state have the choice of whether to take part in the program. St. Louis County, which has a 2.7-percent tax rate, has opted to waive its tax this weekend.

Kirkwood and Webster Groves have decided not to participate. However, shoppers there can still receive the 6.925-percent tax exemption on state and county sales taxes. 

That means shoppers in Kirkwood will pay only the local sales tax, which is 1.25 percent. Meanwhile, the local sales tax rate is 2.25 percent for businesses in the Kirkwood Transportation Development District.

In Webster Groves, shoppers will pay only the local tax rate of 1.5 percent this weekend. The only exception is for businesses in the Old Webster Transportation Development District where the local rate is tax is 2.125 percent.

Items eligible for the tax exemption include:

• Clothing–an article of clothing can’t exceed $100;
• School supplies–up to $50 per purchase;
• Personal computers and peripheral devices-$3,500 or less;
• Computer software-$350 or less.

Click here for a complete list of qualified items.

Neighboring cities including Des Peres, Warson Woods and Rock Hill also are not participating. For a list of other cities not participating in the tax-free weekend, visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website.