Back To School in Illinois

If you live in Illinois, you know that the state lowered the state sales tax for 10 days, for back to school shopping. Retailers across the state have announced plans to open their stores early to kick-off the sales tax holiday and are offering more discounts on items required or desired for back-to-school. In addition to those items needed immediately, families should consider stocking up on basic supplies that will be necessary for the balance of the school year. Virtually all items required by classroom teachers, including paper, binders, pens, pencils, crayons, rulers, erasers, chalk, tape, paste, and glue, will be eligible for the reduced sales tax rate. Other eligible items for reduced taxes include clothing that costs less than $100 per item, including shoes, outerwear, uniforms, gloves, hats, and mittens.

During the ten-day sales tax holiday, the 5% part of sales taxes collected at retail registers will be waived. Sales taxes collected on behalf of local governments will continue to be collected.

The tax holiday runs about a week longer than those in Iowa and Missouri which traditionally occur during the first weekend in August. This provides Illinois families more time to select and buy the items their children need for back-to-school.

I did not think too much about it until I shopped for the supplies. I checked the ads and I did store hop. I was able to buy supplies for two-grade school kids for under $25.00. I was very surprised.

I hope people do take advantage of the reduced sales tax and store sales. It almost makes you want to school shop.