Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 19 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
Weekend a tax-free holiday for shoppers
Published Tuesday, July 29, 2008
VIDALIA — Planning on making a large purchase? If you buy in Louisiana this weekend, you won’t have to pay state sales tax.
The sales tax exemption applies to the first $2,500 of a purchase, and applies to items previously placed on lay-away and will also be applied to items placed on lay-away during the tax holiday.
The holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ends at midnight Saturday.
Eddie Reynolds, owner of Reynolds’ Jewelry, said he had been unaware of the sales tax exemption until Tuesday, but that he hoped it would bring some business into his store.
“If you make a big purchase, it could save you a good deal of money,” Reynolds said.
The state sales tax is 4 percent of every purchase, or $0.04 for every dollar paid. If a consumer makes a purchase of $2,500 or more, they will save $100 in taxes.
The manager of RRUS and Company, a home and fashion store in Vidalia, Jessie Chandler said Friday and Saturday are the busiest days at the store anyway, and that the business already has some sales in place.
“I think the tax holiday will probably have some (positive) impact on our business,” Chandler said.
Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said he believes the tax holidays stimulate the local economy.
“I think it has a tremendous impact on the local area, especially at this time of year with the sale of things like air-conditioners,” Copeland said. “I don’t think it could come at a better time with the price of gas where it is. I wish they would have more (tax holidays).”
Local sales taxes will still be in place during the holiday.
Vehicle and meal purchases are exempt from the tax holiday, as are non-tangible services such as hotel room rentals and home repairs.
Comments
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 12:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Time to go to Vidalia and shop:)
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
4% savings, wow. So if I drive from Natchez and spend $100, I may break even with the cost for the gas. Wow. People may want to drive all the way from New York City to cash in on that.
Posted by speakup (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 2:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
shame it does not mean gas tax...
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Target here we come for our regular shopping trip but at least this time we will save a little more!
Posted by supermom (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Alabama does this on a regular basis. Friends of mine that live there love it. I think it's a great idea.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do to supermom...
NtzMom55 it is 4% more than what Natchez is offering....If you are going into town anyway it's just a minute over there..
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good time of the year, back to school shopping, every bit can help! Alexandria Mall, here I come!
Posted by itsmemame (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just happen to be going to Memphis where I will be able to take advantage of a tax free weekend. I can't believe the luck, this super event coinciding with my trip! Tennessee does this twice yearly.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree teach4peace every little bit helps....People usually go else where to buy school clothes anyway...
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sounds like an accounting nightmare for business owners to me
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach4Peaches
hey hold up, stop and shop in Natchez girl!!!!
Posted by eagle (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I lived in Alabama for the last 5 1/2 years they do not have tax free holiday on a regular basis it is just once a year and it only applies to school supplies. One weekend a year and that was only because Florida was doing it which if i remember correctly it is a week long in Florida could be mistaken on that.
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Think about those people in Natchez who were planning on doing their big two-week or monthly shopping for groceries and house supplies. If they were planning on spending $500 dollars in Wal-Mart, why not drive on to the VIdalia Wal-Mart and save $30 or $40 bucks.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
it's only for bigger ticket purchases swapmeet
read the article
anyway, stop going to WAlmart and go to Uptown Grocery
Posted by papajeff (Jeff McClure) on July 30, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No, K, it applies to all purchases except "Vehicle and meal purchases .....(and) non-tangible services such as hotel room rentals and home repairs". They used the big ticket examples to get people interested. LA has done this a few times in the past. It just wasn't advertised very much in advance. I work near New Orleans and it has been advertised on the radio here for over a week. 4% off the sales tax may not be a lot, but it is better than 0% off.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oh, ok, I'll take your word for it then, the article is misleading
you think the state can survive without all that tax?
Posted by lookingout (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
krogers where are people really going to shop for clothes in natchez......you have to go out of town to get a good selection
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers is Uptown Grocery a real grocery store? Well not real but, do they have all the htings you would need when you go grocery shopping? For some reason i thought Uptown was like for deli meats....Please let me know if it is i will be more than happy to shop there being it is locally owned.
Posted by speakup (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
no this is not pertaining to this news story, but why did they delete the rape comments?
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)