Back-to-school tax free weekend starts today

Tax-free weekend begins today, which means many local stores will be flooded with shoppers looking to save a little money on back-to-school supplies.

The state’s annual tax-free weekend, set for today through Sunday, exempts certain purchases from the state’s 4.225 percent sales tax and allows counties and cities to decide whether to waive local sales taxes during the same period.

The tax break is limited to items intended for the return to school, such as computers, school supplies and clothing.

The Cape Girardeau County Commission is eliminating the 1 percent county sales tax as part of the tax holiday, and the city of Jackson will waive its 2 percent sales tax. The city of Cape Girardeau is not offering a break from city sales taxes, but Cape Girardeau shoppers still will have relief from state and county taxes.