How To Maximize MD Tax-Free Shopping Week: Expert Tips

MARYLAND — The last day of Maryland’s tax-free shopping week is Saturday, Aug. 17. During this period, shoppers can enjoy savings on various items, making it an ideal time for back-to-school shopping and other essential purchases.

The shoppers at RetailMeNot shared some tips on how to stretch the savings this weekend.

The sales tax holiday is intended to help families save money on school essentials like supplies, clothes, shoes, backpacks and more — and to boost sales at Maryland retailers. During the holiday, the state sales tax of 6 percent will be suspended on clothing and shoes under $100 or the first $40 for backpack sales.

Although commonly associated with back-to-school shopping, the tax-free savings apply to shoppers of all ages and includes sweaters, shirts, slacks, jeans, dresses, robes, underwear, belts, shoes and boots.

A RetailMeNot survey said the primary stressors for shoppers this season concerns the price of products, so tax holidays are a great way to save on the necessities for kids and college students heading back to the classroom.

The shopping site offers some tips to get the most for your money at the stores.

Back-to-School Savings Tips

• Stack Sales With Other Discounts – Take advantage of shopping the back-to-school sales by downloading cash back browser extensions like RetailMeNot’s Deal Finder to find and automatically apply the best coupons on top of cash back offers on every purchase at top stores.
• Join Your Favorite Retailer’s Rewards Program – Some retailers save their best discounts for their rewards members. For example, Target is offering college students 20% off one purchase (as long as you sign up for the free Circle rewards program). And Amazon tends to offer exclusive discounts on school supplies to Prime members.
• Take Advantage of Trade-in Programs – Many major brands now have trade-in programs that provide you with a discount or store credit in exchange for your gently-used goods. If your kids have outgrown their clothes, you may find you can get store credit for trading in the outfits they outgrew from last year. And when it comes to tech, everyone from Apple to Samsung offers credit for trade-ins.

Maryland Tax-Free Week

These items are some of the categories exempt from tax:

• Clothing and Footwear: All qualifying apparel priced at $100 or less per item will be tax-free. This includes shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, coats, hats, and more.
• The first $40 of a backpack: If you have your eye on a backpack that costs more than $40, don’t worry! The first $40 of a backpack’s purchase price is exempt from sales tax, allowing you to save on both fashion and functionality.

What’s Not included in Maryland Tax-Free Week

Here are some items that do not qualify:

• Accessory Items: While clothing is included in the tax exemption, accessories like jewelry, handbags, and watches are not covered.
• Protective Equipment: While clothing and footwear are tax-free, specialized protective equipment, such as sports gear or safety equipment, do not qualify for the sales tax exemption.
• School Supplies: Supplies such as markers, binders, and folders are not included in Maryland’s tax-free week.

To find more details on what is exempt from the state’s sales tax, see the full list here.

For more information on Maryland tax-free week, visit RetailMeNot’s full guide.

Related: MD Tax-Free Shopping Week 2024: Dates, Savings, Eligible Items