Statewide tax-free weekend underway for back-to-school shoppers

Good news for back to school shoppers–select purchases are tax-free this weekend.

The statewide tax holiday started Friday and runs through Sunday.

While it doesn’t bring in the crowds Black Friday does, shoppers still packed many stores in Columbia Friday and Saturday.

“We had people waiting at the door both days,” said Brian Mann, the general manager at Best Buy in Columbia. “A couple of them had shopped Thursday night with me and said they’d be back first thing in the morning and in they came.”

During this time, sales tax will not be included on school supplies, clothing and computers.

“A lot of it has to do with computer products like hard drives, routers, that type of thing, anything they’re going to use for the dorm or for school,” said Mann. “Printers are a big thing right now too because printers do qualify.”

State sales tax will not appear on shoppers’ receipts but local sales tax in many cities will.

Columbia and Jefferson City are not participating in the tax free holiday weekend at a local level.

For more information on what qualifies for tax free or which cities and counties are not participating, head to the Missouri Department of Revenue’s website.