2015 Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday Soon, Local Stores Plan Extended Hours and Sales

Local Sevier County retailers are preparing for the annual Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday.

The State of Tennessee has scheduled the 2015 Sales Tax Holiday weekend from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 7 until Sunday, August 9 at 11:59 p.m., and with Sevier County being a major shopping destination for residents of east Tennessee and vacationers, retail stores are preparing for that busy weekend.

Clothing and shoes, as well as school and art supplies, that cost $100 or less per item are exempt from sales tax during the Sales Tax Holiday. Accessories such as jewelry, handbags and sunglasses are still taxable.

Computers and tablets with a purchase price of $1,500 or less are also exempt. If the computer purchase price is above $1,500 the entire amount is taxable as there is no provision to exempt a portion of the sales price. Computer parts and supplies, software, storage media, printers, video game consoles and cell phones are still taxable.

Qualifying items must be below the maximum price, but there is no limit to the number of items a shopper may buy.

See the charts below for reference of taxable and tax exempt items.

While the Sales Tax Holiday is popular time for parents buying back to school supplies, clothing and shoes for kids, the event is open to everyone. Only businesses are excluded.

Purchases of qualifying items in person from retail stores throughout Tennessee, and those by mail, telephone, email and from internet retailers will qualify for the sales tax exemption if the customer orders and pays for the item and the retailer accepts the order during the Sales Tax Holiday period for immediate shipment to a Tennessee address, even if delivery is made after the exemption period.

A survey of local stores found many are planning Sales Tax Holiday sales.

“We have tons of door busters going on that weekend and great deals!” said Keri Jones, store manager at Belk in Sevierville. Belk is offering extended shopping hours for the event, Friday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Tanger Outlet Center in Sevierville will also have extended hours, opening 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Sales Tax Holiday hours for other Sevierville and Pigeon Forge retailers:

VF Outlet in Governor’s Crossing, 224 Collier Dr., Sevierville, Tenn.

• Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Sunday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

CATO in Governor’s Crossing, 200 Collier Dr., Sevierville, Tenn.

• Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

T.J. Maxx, 617 Parkway, Sevierville, Tenn.

• Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Bass Pro Shops, 3629 Outdoor Sportsmans Place, Kodak, Tenn.

• Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Sunday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Duncan’s Clothing

1544 Parkway. Sevierville, Tenn.

2286 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

2668 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

4109 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

• Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Sunday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

(Retailers who would like their 2015 Sales Tax Holiday hours listed here may send information to editor@seviernewsmessenger.com)

Items that qualify for sales tax exemption during the Sales Tax Holiday

Item	Other Information
Aerobic clothing
Antique clothing (for wear)
Aprons/Clothing shields
Athletic socks
Baby clothes
Baby diapers
Baby receiving blankets
Backpacks
Bandanas
Bathing suits
Belts
Bibs
Binders	School supply
Blackboard Chalk	School supply
Blouses
Book Bags	School supply
Boots, general purpose (winter, dress, cowboy, hiking)
Bow Ties
Bowling Shirts
Bras
Bridal Gowns and Bridal Veils
Calculators	School supply
Camp Clothing
Caps
Cellophane Tape	School supply
Chalk	School supply
Chef Uniforms
Choir and Altar Clothing
Clay	School art supplies are exempt.
Clerical Vestments
Clothing	Exempt if $100 or less per item.
Coats
Compasses	School supply
Composition Books	School supply
Computers, Notebooks, Laptops, and Tablets	Exempt if $1500 or less. Includes CPU and other bundled components such as speakers, monitor, keyboard, mouse, cables, and basic software.
Corsets and Corset Laces
Costumes, including novelty children’s costumes
Coveralls
Cowboy Boots
Crayons	School supply
Diapers – (adult and baby, cloth or disposable)
Dress Gloves and Shoes
Dresses
Ear Muffs
Erasers	School supply
Folders – expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila	School supply
Formal Clothing, purchased
Galoshes
Garters/Garter Belts
Girdles, Bras, and Corsets
Glazes	School art supplies are exempt.
Gloves
Glue, Paste, and Paste Sticks	School supply
Golf Clothing (caps, dresses, shirts, skirts, pants)
Graduation Caps and Gowns, purchased
Gym Suits and Uniforms
Hats, general purpose: cowboy, baseball, knit
Highlighters	School supply
Hiking boots
Hooded Shirts and Sweatshirts
Hosiery
Index Card Boxes	School supply
Index Cards	School supply
Jackets
Jeans
Jerseys, sports
Jogging Apparel
Jogging Bras
Knitted Caps and Hats
Lab Coats
Leather Clothing
Leg Warmers
Legal Pads	School supply
Leotards
Lingerie
Lunch Boxes	School supply
Markers	School supply
Mittens
Neckties
Neckwear, including ties and scarves
Nightgowns and Night Shirts
Notebooks	School supply
Overalls
Overshoes and Rubber Shoes
Pads, sketch and drawing	School art supplies are exempt per legislation passed in 2007.
Paintbrushes, for artwork	School art supplies are exempt.
Paints, acrylic, tempora, and oil	School art supplies are exempt.
Pajamas
Pants
Paper – loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper	School supply
Pencil Boxes	School supply
Pencil Sharpeners	School supply
Pencils	School supply
Pens	School supply
Ponchos
Poster Board	School supply
Prom dresses
Protractors	School supply
Raincoats, Rain Hats, and Ponchos
Religious Clothing
Robes
Rubber Thongs, Flip-Flops
Rulers	School supply
Running Shoes, Without Cleats
Sandals
Scarves
School Art Supplies	Clay and glazes, paints (acrylic, tempora, and oil), paintbrushes for artwork, sketch and drawing pads, and watercolors are exempt per legislation passed in 2007.
School supplies	Exempt if $100 or less per item.
School Supply Boxes	School supply
School Uniforms
Scissors	School supply
Scout uniforms
Shawls and Wraps
Shirts
Shoe Inserts
Shoe Laces
Shoes
Shorts
Ski masks
Ski suits
Slacks
Sleepwear, Nightgowns, Pajamas
Slippers
Slips
Sneakers
Socks (including athletic)
Stockings
Suits, Slacks, Jackets, and Sport Coats
Support Hose
Suspenders
Sweat Suits
Sweaters
Sweatshirts
Swimsuits
Tablet Computer
Tennis skirts, dresses, shoes
Thongs
Textbooks
Ties/Neckwear
Tights
Trousers
T-shirts
Tuxedos, purchased
Undergarments, including longjohns
Underwear
Uniforms	Athletic or Non-Athletic
Veils	Veils for general use are exempt.
Vests, except hunting and water
Walking shoes
Watercolors
Wedding Gowns	$100 or less rule applies.
Windbreakers
Workbooks
Writing Tablets

 

Items that DO NOT qualify for sales tax exemption during the Sales Tax Holiday

Item	Other Information
Belt Buckles	Belt buckles sold separately are not exempt.
Belts, tool
Boots, ski
Breathing Masks
Bridal apparel, other than gowns or veils
Briefcases
Cell Phones, including smart phones
Clothing Accessories or Equipment	Incidental items worn on the person or in conjunction with clothing.
Compact Disks	Computer storage media
Computer Software	Basic computer software purchased with a bundled system is exempt. Individually purchased software and upgraded software purchased with a bundled system is taxable.
Computer Storage Media	Computer storage media (diskettes, compact disks), handheld electronic schedulers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), computer printers, and printer supplies (printer paper, printer ink).
Cosmetics
Diskettes	Computer storage media
Electronic Readers
Electronic Schedulers	School computer supply
Emblems	Emblems sold separately are not exempt.
Fabric
Face Shields
Fins, swim
Glasses, safety
Globes
Gloves, protective or welders’
Gloves, sports
Goggles, safety
Goggles, sports
Guards, sports hand, elbow, mouth, shin
Hair Notions
Handbags
Hard Hats
Hearing Protectors
Helmets
Jewelry
Jump Drives	Computer storage media
Leased Items
Maps
Paintbrushes, other	Paintbrushes not used for artwork are taxable.
Paints, other	Only acrylic tempora, or oil paints defined as school art supplies are exempt.
Patches	Patches sold separately are not exempt.
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)	School computer supply
Printer Ink	School computer supply
Printer Paper	School computer supply
Printer Supplies	School computer supply
Printers	School computer supply
Protective Equipment	Items for human wear and designed as protection of the wearer against injury or disease or as protections against damage or injury of other persons or property, but not suitable for general use.
Reference Books
Reference Maps
Rented Items
Respirators, paint or dust
School Computer Supplies	Computer storage media (diskettes, compact disks), handheld electronic schedulers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), computer printers, and printer supplies (printer paper, printer ink).
School Instructional Material	Reference books, and reference maps and globes. Textbooks and workbooks exempt under existing law.
Sewing Equipment & Supplies
Sewing Materials	Materials that become part of clothing are not exempt.
Shoes, ballet or tap
Shoes, cleated or spiked
Shoulder Pads for Dresses,
Jackets, etc.
Shoulder Pads, sports
Skates, roller and ice
Ski Boots
Skin Diving Suits
Smart Phones
Sport or Recreational Equipment	Items designed for human use and worn in conjunction with an athletic or recreational activity that are not suitable for general use.
Sunglasses
Telephones
Thread
Thumb Drives
Tool Belts
Trade or Business, items used in
Umbrellas
Video Game Consoles
Wallets
Watches
Welders’ Gloves
Wetsuits
Yarn
Zippers

 

For out more information about the annual Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday, visit the State of Tennessee website here.