Ready to shop for Back-to-School, and perhaps save some money too? Tax-free weekend in South Carolina is coming up and we have all the details! Check out these tips and take full advantage of the tax-free weekend!
Tax-free weekend in South Carolina for 2023 starts at midnight on Friday, August 4th, and continues to 11:59 pm on Sunday, August 6th. It’s a great opportunity to knock out the school supplies list plus stock up on other items like clothing, footwear, bedding, and even computers.
A tax-free weekend means that hundreds of items are exempt from the state’s 6% sales tax. So, doing the math, say you spend $200 on school supplies, books, uniforms, and shoes. Minus the 6% sales tax, you pay $188 instead of $200. The more you spend, the more you save, which is why we’ve come up with 6 tips to save 6% this tax-free weekend.
10 tips for tax-free weekend
Make a list of what is required by the school
Greenville County schools have ready-made lists for parents to download and print out of what their children will need to bring. This can be stressful (seriously, I was that parent freaking out last year in Walmart because I couldn’t find the primary notebook).
You can look up your child’s Greenville County school location and then look for the school supply list for their grade. Print that out and take it with you to the store as a checklist.
Make another list of items you would like to get
This is a separate list from the school supplies. There are a lot of things exempt on the tax-free weekends that would be great to purchase and avoid paying the sales tax on, like: pajamas, bed sheets, pillows, shower curtains, towels, printers, those boots you’ve been eyeing for a month, and computers.
Think about what you would really like to have over the next few months (hey, Christmas is only five months away) and make a list of that stuff.
Be sure to do your homework ahead of time so you know a good deal when you see one and not just a retail markup for the sale.
Bring entertainment for the kids
If you have to shop with the kids, bring snacks and something to entertain them. It can take a while to find everything on the school supply list. Snacks may be a bit harder in the stores, so consider saving those for the car ride between stores.
Shop Online
This is one you can start now–load up your shopping cart ahead of time and then hit “purchase” when the tax-free weekend rolls around. Big retailers like Walmart, Target, Kohls, and Amazon are honoring tax-free weekends online.
Bonus: You can shop after the kids go to bed and you have a minute to think and you can avoid crowded stores.
Know what is exempt and what isn’t
We’ve made a handy infographic to help with this one.
You can also view the entire tax-exempt list from SC Department of Revenue. Here are the basics:
The tax-free savings apply to these items
- Clothing
- Accessories (such as bedspreads and linens)
- Footwear
- School supplies (such as bookbags)
- Computers
- Computer equipment (such as printers)
The tax-free savings do not apply to these items
- Jewelry
- Cosmetics
- Eyewear
- Furniture
- Items placed on layaway
Take advantage of sales
Take advantage of sales on tax-exempt items. It’s even better if you can match up sales with coupons. You can search for coupons online or in newspaper circulars. Use store apps, and check coupon apps like Ibotta! Don’t forget to check those clearance racks and shelves.
Check out the local deals and events
Some local businesses are going out of their way to lure customers with extended hours and good deals. We will be adding to this list as more deals become available:
Adidas Open House
Addidas Open House Tax-Free Weekend: Open to all – no invite needed!
Fri 8/4, Sat 8/5 & Sun 8/6
- Store Hours: Fri – Sat: 10 am – 9 pm | Sun: 11 am – 7 pm
- The Adidas Employee Store is open to the public! Shop 50% off the latest back-to-school styles, tax-free and without an invite. Prep for picture day with our exclusive Adidas photo booth. Photo is provided with any purchase.
Book Warehouse Outlet Sale
Saturday 8/5 and Sunday 8/6, 2023
- Sale hours: 8 am to 6 pm
- 70% off all retail
- Facebook Page
- Here’s our story on the Book Warehouse Outlet.
Consignment Shops
Consignment: Don’t forget to check out Children’s Consignment Stores in Greenville, SC to stretch your dollars even further.
Target
Target is offering Teachers and homeschool families an extra 15% off school supplies.
When you register, you’ll receive a one-time use 15% off coupon in your target app. School supplies, school organization materials, tissues, hand sanitizer, and more are all included. This deal actually runs through August 26th, 2023.
I can’t ever get the online stores to honor the tax free weekend! Anyone have success with online shopping during tax free weekend?