Mississippi shoppers will get a break from sales tax this weekend as the annual tax-free weekend begins Friday at midnight. The tax-free shopping law was passed by the Mississippi Legislature in 2009 as a way to help families with the financial strain of back-to-school shopping.
‘This was legislated in House Bill 348 during the regular session,” said Rep. Gary Chism. “It starts at midnight on Friday and goes until midnight on Saturday. This tax break is extended to any item of clothing and shoes under $100. It does not include accessories such as purses, jewelry and wallets. It gives parents with school-age children the opportunity to save seven percent on back-to-school clothing. It is beneficial for everyone.”
Columbus business owner Karen Stanley, a mother of two, said a tax-free weekend will not only help families on a budget, but it will help to keep shoppers in Columbus and Lowndes County.
“This is my first year with two little ones in school,” said Stanley, owner of the public relations/marketing firm NeonFROG. “I have two boys, one in kindergarten and one in fourth grade at New Hope. As a small business owner myself, I am always looking for a way to support local businesses and this is a great reason not to go out of town to look for shoes, book bags, lunch boxes and clothes for the boys. My boys are tough on their clothes so anything that makes it more affordable when they bust a hole in their almost-new pair of jeans makes me smile.”
Columbus Chief Financial Officer Mike Bernsen said the tax-free shopping days are something of non-factor in terms of sales tax collections.
“Having a tax free day does affect our sales tax income slightly,” Bernsen said. “Our September 2011 sales tax receipts, which are collected for sales made in August, was a bit lower than June 2011. But at the same time, tax-free shopping usually means more people are out shopping so it is good for our local merchants.”
While the tax break will be available at stores across Columbus, one of the area’s largest retailers is gearing up for one of its busiest times of the year. According to Victoria Leggett, store manager of Old Navy in Columbus, the back-to-school shopping event rivals November’s “Black Friday.”
“Oh my goodness are we busy during this event,” said Leggett. “It’s not quite as busy as Black Friday, but it is very close. We were extremely busy last year. We carry the uniforms for the surrounding schools and we are putting them on sale Thursday. So, parents can get a uniform on sale and save seven percent on that. Last year, parents were rushing in to buy uniforms for their children.”
Downtown Columbus, home to several clothing stores including Deep South Pout and the Fashion Barn is also expected to see some heavy foot traffic as a result of the event.
“Any incentive to get people out shopping helps to boost local spending,” Main Street Columbus Executive Director Amber Brislin said. “Last year, clothing stores downtown saw an increase in traffic throughout the weekend and are certainly planning for the same this year.”
At JC Penney in Starkville, store manager Mike Kassouf is planning to make the most of the opportunity.
The store will open at 9 a.m. Friday and remain open until the last customer leaves. It will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday and again stay open until the last shopper hits the exit.
“All merchandise is priced at what the store-average sale was on a particular item last year, including all coupons and offers,” Kassouf said. “So if a boy’s uniform shirt is marked down to $9.99, our average sale price last year at this sale was $7. So that’s what we will sell it for this year. In the earlier hours, our biggest pull is usually children and juniors clothing. We sell a lot uniforms across the board, though.”
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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