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Politics & Government

Get Your Shopping Lists Ready for Maryland's Tax-Free Week

The tax-free week starts Aug. 14 for apparel and footwear priced at $100 or less.

Back-to-school shoppers are in for a little break this month as Maryland officials and businesses gear up for the state’s fifth annual sales tax holiday week.

Beginning Aug. 14, shoppers purchasing individual clothing items and footwear priced at $100 or less will be off the hook for paying the state’s mandatory 6 percent sales tax for a full week.

The tradition began in 2007 when the General Assembly approved a bill that would relieve consumers of paying state sales tax on certain items, with the intent of drumming up sales for businesses. Since then, every August for one week, shoppers are relieved of sales tax on apparel and footwear. And in February for one weekend, shoppers can purchase Energy Star appliances — products that meet the requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy — without being taxed as well. (The next Energy Star tax-free weekend will be Feb. 18 to 20, 2012.)

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"The sales tax holiday legislation was enacted to promote retail sales for small Maryland businesses and to benefit consumers," said state Sen. Rob Garagiola, (D), of Germantown, who supported the legislation.

The initiative is referred to as “Shop Maryland Week,” and Maryland’s chief tax collector, Comptroller Peter Franchot, has been touting it across the state.

“The comptroller is very supportive of the initiative,” said Christine Feldmann, a spokeswoman for Franchot. "It helps not only consumers trying to save a few dollars when shopping for back-to-school but small businesses as well who are trying to compete with out-of-state retailers."

Last year, there was a 10 percent spike in retails sales across the state, Feldmann said.

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“It was busy last year,” said Shannon Gorman of Gorman’s Garments and Gear in Olney. “Especially at the beginning of the day, I remember lines forming outside of people waiting to get in.”

This year, Gorman said she will increase staffing in the store in preparation of the tax-free week.

Will you be making use of the tax-free week? Let us know in the comments what you plan to buy.

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