Time to make those back-to-school purchases without paying sales tax
Oklahoma Tax-Free Weekend is this weekend. This is an opportunity for parents and guardians to purchase back-to-school clothing and shoes without having to pay the sales tax that normally accompanies these purchases.
Under the special holiday law, if an item is tax exempt, anyone may make the purchase tax-free. These sales are for any article of clothing or footwear designed to be worn on or about the human body, according to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, and the sales price of the article is less than $100. You can shop online, in catalogs or at retail locations.
The OTC notes that this does not apply to the sale of any accessories, special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity.
If a customer buys an eligible item during the sales tax holiday and later exchanges it for the same item in a different size or color, tax is not to be charged even if the exchange is made after the sales tax holiday. If a customer buys an eligible item during the sales tax holiday and returns the item after the tax holiday period for credit on the purchase of a different item, sales tax applies to the sale of the newly purchased item, even if it would have been eligible for the exemption during the sales tax holiday. If a customer buys an eligible item before the holiday period but returns the item during the sales tax holiday period and receives credit on the purchase of a different item of eligible property, no sales tax is due on the sale of the new item.
If a retailer offers a discount to reduce the price of an eligible item to less than $100 the item will qualify for the sales tax exemption. This applies to all discounts even if a retailer’s coupon or loyalty card is required to secure the discount.
