Illinois’ 10-day sales tax holiday ends Sunday, but shoppers can get tax relief on a number of items before it ends.
Unlike duty-free weekends, a sales tax is still added to purchases, but is reduced on specific purchases, according to state officials.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning on shopping on Sunday.
What is the tax holiday?
Senate Bill 157 lowers the rate of tax on clothing and school supplies by 5% for 10 days in August.
“As a nod to our working parents, guardians and teachers in Illinois, the lower tax rate on school supplies removes a burden when preparing for the school year,” said Sen. Rachelle Crowe states in a statement. “I hope that by instituting a tax holiday, we can help relieve families and educators of some of the financial costs to prepare students for the upcoming school year.”
The move was part of a $46.5 billion budget signed by Governor JB Pritzker in April.
“The budget I am enacting today brings real improvements to the lives of working families and prepares us for a stronger financial future,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Investments in stronger schools, modernized airports and newly paved highways, hundreds of thousands of well-paying infrastructure jobs and a better-funded pension system…these are the kinds of priorities we can invest in. when our state is governed responsibly.”
The budget plan went into effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year.
Other tax relief efforts included in the budget were a suspension of the state grocery tax and a temporary halt to the gasoline tax hike that was to take effect this month.
When is the tax rate lowered in Illinois?
The 10-day period began on August 5 and will end on Sunday.
How much will you save?
Over the 10 days, rates on specific items will drop from 6.25% to 1.25%.
Which items will see lower tax rates?
Qualifying purchases include certain apparel and footwear with a retail price of less than $125 per item. Eligible school supplies are not subject to the $125 threshold.
Here is a complete list of items eligible for the tax reduction:
Clothes
The retail price must be lower
over $125 per item
• household and shop aprons
• sports supporters
• swimwear and caps
• belts and suspenders
• coats and jackets
• gloves and mittens
• hats, caps and earmuffs
• lab coats
• ties
• rain gear
• rubber pants (covers for fabric
layers)
• scarves
• underwear
• school uniforms
• shorts and pants
• skirts and dresses
• stockings and tights
• shirts and blouses
Shoe
The retail price must be lower
over $125 per item
• shoes, trainers and laces
• sandals
• slippers
• socks and stockings
• footlets
• boots and overshoes
• insoles for shoes
• steel-toed shoes
School supplies
Must be used by students of the
Course of Study
• workbooks
• book bags
• calculators
• tape
• blackboard chalk
• composition books
• pencils
• colouring pencils
• erasers
• expandable pocket, plastic and
manila folders
• glue, paste and dough sticks
• highlighters
• cards and boxes of cards
• legal notebooks
• lunch boxes
• Markers
• notebooks and sheets of notebooks,
including a loose-leaf notebook,
copy, graphic, tracing, manila,
colored and construction paper,
and billboard
• pencils and pencil leads
• pens, ink and ink refills for pens
• pencil boxes and other school supplies
supply boxes
• sharpener
• protractors, rulers and compasses
• the scissors
• writing tablets
What items are not eligible?
Clothing & Accessories
Any garment with a detail
sale price of $125 or more, and
• briefcases
• cosmetics
• notions of hair including, but not
limited to barrettes, hair bows,
and hair nets
• handbags and wallets
• tissues
• jewelry and watches
• non-prescription sunglasses
• umbrellas
• wigs and hairpieces
Sporting or recreational
equipment
• gloves, including but not limited to
baseball, bowling, boxing,
hockey and golf gloves
• protective glasses
• hand and elbow guards
• life jackets and vests
• mouth guards
• Shin pads
• shoulder pads
• combinations
Protective equipment
• breathing masks
• clean room clothing and equipment
• hearing and hearing protection
• face shields
• helmets and safety helmets
• paint or dust respirators
• protective gloves
• goggles and safety glasses
• seat belts and tool holders
• welding gloves and masks
Shoe
• ballet, tap dancing, cleats or pointe shoes
athletic shoes
• roller skates and ice skates
• skiing boots
• waders and flippers
School supplies
Any items not used by students in
the course of study, and
• clay and enamels
• acrylic, tempera and oil paints
• brushes for artwork
• sketchbooks and drawing books
• watercolors
Teaching materials
• reference books
• reference maps and globes
• manuals and workbooks
• computers and related supplies
• USB keys and other computers
data storage devices
• data storage media such as
floppy disks and compact discs
• boxes and cases for disk storage
• external ports or drives
• computer cases
• computer cables
• computer printers
• printer cartridges, toner and ink
• cameras and related supplies
such as movies and memory cards,
video cameras, tapes and
videotapes
• mobile phones
• Personal digital assistants
(PDA) and portable electronic devices
planners
For more information on sales tax exemption, click here.
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