New Jersey back-to-school sales tax holiday begins
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) – If you haven't started back-to-school shopping yet, you may want to wait if you live in New Jersey. That's because the state's back-to-school sales tax holiday starts Saturday.
Shoppers have until Sept. 5 when they don't have to pay sales tax on school supplies and other essential items, like computers and sports equipment. Clothing and shoes are already tax-exempt.
The sales tax holiday applies to items bought in stores and online.
Heather Lanz is about to spend hundreds of dollars as she gets her four kids ready to head back to school.
"A little anxious, but four kids at home, you know, go ahead, you can go back for a few days," Lanz said laughing.
But, for the few days leading up to school, she will be able to save some cash thanks to the school sales tax holiday.
"I'm definitely going to try to take advantage of that because with four kids needing two notebooks each, folders, certain pencils, pens and what-not, definitely, without the sales tax, is definitely going to help us," Lanz said.
The tax holiday was introduced by Assemblyman Paul Moriarty. He and state leaders say a break on the 6.6% sales tax will help families who need to purchase items that are a bit more expensive than pencils and notebooks, like laptops and sports equipment.
"People aren't going to save enough money to become rich, but every little bit helps and believe me, people care," Assemblyman Paul Moriarty said.
Deloitte Consulting says because of inflation, families will spend on average $661 per child on back-to-school supplies nationwide.
Based on our math, the Garden State sales tax holiday could mean savings of about $43.70.
At a news conference launching the holiday, assembly speaker Craig Coughlin says with ongoing inflation, these 10 days will help families.
"This is an opportunity to save a few bucks, you know? The average American can spend up to 800 bucks on back-to-school items and it adds up," he said. "The $3,000 computer, for example, you'll save a couple hundred dollars. And those are the kind of things will help make things a little easier."
But Republican legislators and one person who was shopping near the news conference and asked us not to show his face, question the holiday's effectiveness and argued for more permanent tax cuts.
But mothers like Wynique Ervin and Lanz say they'll still take advantage of more money in their pockets.
"It's perfect timing. I mean, I still have to digest the class list so it'll definitely be beneficial," Ervin said.
A comprehensive list of all items that are exempted from sales taxes can be found here.