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Oklahoma is gearing up to go back to school and that means one thing — the State’s tax free weekend is right around the corner.

According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC), the 2022 free tax sales begin in Oklahoma at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 5 and will last until midnight Sunday, Aug. 7, which will allow Oklahomans to keep their money right here in the state. The sales began in 2007 when the Oklahoma Legislature passed Senate Bill 861, aimed at benefiting both consumers and retailers by providing a boost in the economy and allowing shoppers to save money for school.

Any store which carries qualifying clothes and shoes will participate in the Oklahoma event. OTC maintains retailers may not “collect state or local sales or use tax on tax exempt items,” which includes certain clothing and footwear items under the value of $100, like aprons, athletic supporters, baby receiving blankets, bathing suits and caps, beach capes and coats, belts and suspenders, boots, coats and jackets, costumes, diapers, ear muffs, footrest, formal wear, garters and garter belts, girdles, gloves and mittens for general use, hats and caps, hosiery, insoles for shoes, lab coats, neckties, overshoes, pantyhose, rainwear, rubber pants, sandals, scarves, shoes and shoe laces, slippers, sneakers, socks and stockings, steel toed shoes, underwear, uniforms (athletic or non-athletic) and wedding apparel. However, any item more than $100 is considered taxable.

Not included in the sale are special clothing or footwear designed primarily for an athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except for the use for which it was designed. Jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches and other similar items worn on or around the body are considered taxable during the weekend-long event, according to OTC. Rental of clothing or footwear during this time period is also taxable.

Those who are shopping online during the sales tax free weekend are also eligible for these savings. According to the OTC, “Eligible items sold to purchasers by mail, telephone, email or internet shall qualify for the sales tax exemption if the customer orders and pays for the item and the retailer accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period.” Coupons are allowed during the weekend to increase savings for shoppers, especially when it comes to lowering prices below the $100 threshold. According to OTC, “This applies to all discounts even if a retailer’s coupon or loyalty card is required to secure the discount. If a retailer accepts a coupon that entitles the retailer to third-party reimbursement, such as a manufacturer’s coupon, the discount provided by the coupon does not reduce the item’s sales price for purposes of determining whether the item is eligible for the exemption.”

For more information on the event, visit www.tax.ok.gov.

The Stephens County Commissioners are considering implementing a use tax for online and out-of-state goods. How do you feel about this?

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