Chicago's sales tax holiday takes effect Friday, giving back-to-school shoppers a welcome chance to save some cash.
Running through August 15, the tax holiday allows shoppers to buy qualifying supplies, clothing and footwear without paying the 5 percent state sales tax.
That means total sales tax in Chicago will drop from 9.75 percent to 4.75 percent. In Woodfield, total sales tax will be 1.25 percent compared with 6.25 percent. Other local sales taxes remain in effect.
"The whole idea of a state sales tax holiday is to help people who live from paycheck to paycheck. This is a way to save money for everyday families," Gov. Pat Quinn said at a Sears store downtown.
And the Illinois Retail Merchants Association said it believes the savings could be enough to entice shoppers from border states.
"Anytime we can use anything to get consumers in our stores is good for the economy," said spokesman Dave Vite.
Check out a list of qualifying items below. Courtesy of Chicago Sun-Times.
Qualifying clothing includes:
- aprons
- bathing suits and caps
- belts and suspenders
- coast and jackets
- gloves and mittens
- hats, caps and ear muffs
- hosiery and panty hose
- lab coats
- neckties
- school uniforms
- skirts and dresses
- shirts and blouses
- socks
- shoes, sneakers and shoelaces
- underwear
Qualifying School Supplies
- binders
- book bags
- calculators
- crayons
- compasses
- construction and notebook paper
- erasers
- expandable pocket, plastic and manila folders
- glue, paste and paste sticks
- index cards
- lunch boxes
- markers
- pencils and sharpeners
- poster board
- scissors
Take a look at the Illinois Department of Revenue website for more details at www.tax.Illinois.gov.
