Parents — and bargain hunters — are poised to get an 8 percent discount on their back-to-school shopping, as Texas marks its annual tax-free weekend to give families a break on buying clothes and school supplies. The “holiday” will run from Friday through Sunday. The state comptroller’s office estimates shoppers will save $64.8 million in state and local sales taxes over the three-day period, up from $62.1 million in 2011. But it pays to do homework before you go because there are restrictions. Individual items in selected categories are exempt from tax if they cost less than $100. On an item that costs $101, you’ll pay full tax. Here’s a list of what won’t be taxed, as you get ready to hit the stores and malls.
NO TAX ON THESE SCHOOL SUPPLIES (if under $100)
•Backpacks for
* Binders
* Book bags
* Calculators
* Cellophane tape
* Blackboard chalk
*Compasses
* Composition books
* Crayons
* Erasers
* Folders; expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
* Glue, paste and paste sticks
* Highlighters
* Index cards
* Index card boxes
* Legal pads
* Lunch boxes
* Markers (including dry erase markers)
* Notebooks
* Paper; loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
* Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
* Pencil sharpeners
* Pencils
* Pens
* Protractors
* Rulers
* Scissors
* Writing tablets
