Annual sales tax holiday starts Aug. 3

Oklahoma families can head to stores across the state to participate in the state’s annual sales tax holiday.

Officials say qualified items will be sold without a sales tax beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 3.

The tax-free holiday will end Sunday, Aug. 5 at 11:59 p.m.

Certain clothing and shoe purchases are exempt from sales tax for this time period only. Qualified items are exempt from state, city, county and local municipality sales taxes.

Retailers are required to participate and may not collect state and local sales or use tax on most footwear and clothing that are sold for less than $100 during the holiday.

According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, clothing and footwear less than $100 will be tax-free during the event.

Some of the items that are tax exempt include the following:

• Aprons, household and shop
• Athletic supporters
• Baby receiving blankets
• Bathing suits and caps
• Beach capes and coats
• Belts and suspenders
• Boots
• Coats and jackets
• Costumes
• Diapers, children and adult, including disposable diapers
• Ear muffs
• Footlets
• Formal wear
• Garters and garter belts
• Girdles
• Gloves and mittens for general use
• Hats and caps
• Hosiery
• Insoles for shoes
• Lab coats
• Neckties
• Overshoes
• Pantyhose
• Rainwear
• Rubber pants
• Sandals
• Scarves
• Shoes and shoe laces
• Slippers
• Sneakers
• Socks and stockings
• Steel toed shoes
• Underwear
• Uniforms, athletic and non-athletic
• Wedding apparel.

However, the tax-free promotion does not apply to accessories or “any special clothing or footwear that is primarily designed for an athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except when used for athletic activity or protective use for which it is designed.”

Other items that are not exempt from taxes include jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches and rental clothing or footwear.