MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (August 1, 2024) – August brings the first day of school for many local school districts, as well as tax free weekend in South Carolina. As parents and students are gearing up for the annual shopping spree, Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Carolinas (BBB) wants to help keep you informed with tips to take advantage of savings.
South Carolina’s annual tax free weekend is happening Friday, August 2 through Sunday, August 4 in stores and online. North Carolina does not have a tax free weekend holiday.
“Tax free weekend isn’t just for parents of school-aged children – all consumers can take advantage of savings,” said Mallory Wojciechowski, president and CEO of BBB serving Eastern Carolinas. “For families completing back to school shopping this weekend, plan ahead by setting a budget and making a shopping list to help keep costs down.”
BBB recommends the following tips to make the most of a sales tax holiday:
Research what items will be tax-exempt. According to the South Carolina Department of Revenue, tax-free items include computers, printers, school supplies, clothing and accessories, shoes, and certain bed and bath items. Eligible items can be new or used and are eligible regardless of price.
-Don’t be confused by advertising. Just because a store advertises a “Back-to-School Sale” doesn’t mean the items are tax-free. Double-check South Carolina’s tax-free list to be sure.
-Set your budget before you go shopping. It can be easy to go over budget when you feel you are getting a great deal on an item. Set your budget before you head to the store.
-Start with the most expensive items first. Make bigger purchases first to ensure you get the most benefit from tax-free sales. There is often high demand for tax-free items during tax holidays. If you need a new computer and school notebooks, start with the computer and snag it tax-free before it’s out of stock.
-Do some deal-stacking. Deal-stacking means using several money-saving methods at once to maximize your savings. Look for coupons and cash-back offers you can use during tax-free holidays to save the most.
Shop tax-free safely online. Be wary of “clickbait” ads that feature items you may be interested in based on your search history. Scammers could be trying to drive you to a different website to steal personal information potentially. Shop on trusted websites. Use secure payment methods like credit cards or payment services that offer buyer protection.
For more information
For related advice, see the BBB Tip: Get ready to go back to school and BBB tax tips and resources. Read our tips for smart online shopping.
For more information, visit BBB.org.
About BBB of Eastern Carolinas
Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Carolinas is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit corporation serving 48 counties in North and South Carolina. The organization is funded primarily by BBB Accredited Business fees from over 5,200 local businesses and professional firms. BBB promotes integrity, consumer confidence and business ethics through business self-regulation in the local marketplace. Services provided by BBB include reports on companies and charitable organizations, general monitoring of advertising in the marketplace, consumer/business education programs and dispute resolution services. All services are provided at no cost to the public, with the occasional exception of mediation and arbitration. Visit BBB.org.
