TAX-FREE WEEKEND
isn't enough time to save these days, shoppers say
By LEE TANT
T&D Staff Writer
As soaring gas and food prices continue to burden the nation’s population, the wallets of South Carolina residents will receive a welcome reprieve this weekend with the state’s annual sales tax holiday.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, and ending at midnight Sunday, Aug. 3, taxes will be exempt for three days on back-to-school items such as clothes, bookbags and computers.
While Orangeburg resident and father of three Anthony Sistrunk is grateful for the tax savings, he questions whether the tax holiday should be longer given the state of the economy.
“The tax-free weekend is good, but it’s not long enough, especially for people with multiple kids,” Sistrunk said.
He believes the tax holiday should extend for an additional three months to help working parents save money.
Since the tax holiday was enacted in 2001, the state’s taxpayers have saved an average $2.8 million per year, according to Department of Revenue spokesperson Adrienne Fairwell.
Wal-Mart Manager Wanda Calhoun expects between 2,000 and 3,000 customers a day. She says the tax-free weekend is one of the biggest grossing weekends of the entire year, ranking just behind Thanksgiving weekend in terms of sales.
“It’s going to be crazy because of the gas prices. People are going to be looking for the sales and the bargains,” Calhoun said.
JCPenney Manager Calvin Tucker says his store is well stocked with school uniforms, which are required for elementary and middle school students in Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5. The department store is even having a sales event to coincide with the tax holiday.
He said sales in recent years have declined during the tax holiday but Tucker predicts JCPenney will have its largest gross so far this year over the weekend.
“Our customers are looking for any way to save,” Tucker said.
Roseland Baker will be one of those people looking to save. A mother of two that has one child in school and the other in college, Baker echoed Sistrunk’s sentiments: “I think it’s worth it, but I wish the holiday lasted a little longer. It should last at least a week,” she said.
Baker believes extending the tax holiday a week would allow people to navigate through the large crowds and lines.
The large crowds are a concern for Shey Phillips of Orangeburg, although she noted it wouldn’t stop her from shopping. “It might be worth the savings but maybe not worth the crowd,” Phillips said.
For some, the tax savings are not enough to justify braving the crowds.
Hazel Smalls holds that opinion and says “it’s a toss-up” as to whether she will shop this weekend.
Shoppers eyeing a set of golf clubs, a piece furniture or the latest video game still will have to pay taxes on those purchases. Those are among the many items not exempt during the weekend.
Midlands Tech student Nicole Sanders thinks everything should be exempt at least once during the year because gas prices are so high. Conversely, Phillips feels the opposite, saying that everything shouldn’t necessarily be included.
Denmark resident James Wise said he’ll be out early shopping on Saturday with his wife and two children. Wise believes it is a good opportunity to save money on school clothing. He also believes all items should be included under the tax-free umbrella, specifically videogames.
“I like video games,” he said.
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached at
ltant@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories at www.TheTandD.com.