Category: Education

Is it almost August? That means Texas Sales Tax Holiday is coming up fast and furious. With more people venturing out, it’s sure to be busy from August 6 to 8. That’s because this is Texas Tax-Free weekend in 2021.

It’s easy to overspend during the tax holiday. These tips will help you ensure you buy what you need and avoid buying something you already have. The nice thing about the tax-free weekend is that it’s for everyone, not just families with kids going to school.

Here are a few important things to know:

• Items $100 or more are taxable.
• Does not apply to clothing subscription boxes.
• Keep all your receipts.
• Stores will not give out rainchecks.

Make the most of tax-free weekend and back-to-school shopping with these tips.

1. Review the official list

You may have seen online articles talking about what’s taxable and what’s exempt. However, some of these aren’t accurate. The one list you want to refer to is the official Sales Tax Holiday list from the Comptroller of Texas. It’d be a good idea to print the list or save it to your phone.

Again, all items priced at $100 or more are not exempt from taxes. Yes, even if they’re on the list. For example, tennis shoes are exempt from taxes unless they cost $100 or more. Be aware that not all shoes qualify for the tax exemption.

The following types of footwear are not tax-free:

• Cleats
• Running shoes with cleats
• Ballet slippers
• Ski boots

And just because one item is taxable, others may not be. For example, tennis skirts and football jerseys are exempt, but football pads and baseball pants are taxable. The logic is that people wear tennis skirts and football jerseys as clothes outside of the sport. Whereas cleats and pads are specific to a sport.

Flip-flops, sandals, and cowboy boots are exempt. While belts are exempt, stand-alone belt buckles are not.

Would you categorize pajamas as school clothes or school supplies? No, they’re exempt. Here are tax-free items that may surprise you:

• Swimsuits
• Robes
• Slippers
• Hunting vests
• Suspenders
• Diapers: baby and adult
• Graduation caps and gowns

So, use the list from the Comptroller of Texas as your only source. Double-check our work.

2. Make a shopping list

When you don’t prepare for shopping, you risk buying a lot of things you already have. Before you go, create a list of what you need. Try on clothes to confirm current clothing and shoe sizes. Don’t use the dressing room as the place to figure it out.

While most people may fit in two or three different sizes, it helps to have a baseline. You want to minimize trying on clothes during a hectic shopping time.

3. Note store hours

You won’t find Black Friday-like hours, but many stores will extend their hours for the Texas Sales Tax Holiday. If you want to avoid the crowds, go as soon as the store opens on Friday. Some people still have to work, so it’s most likely the least crowded time of the whole weekend.

These three tips will optimize your tax-free weekend and minimize the headaches.

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It’s a challenge these days to volunteer. Fortunately, nonprofits like Central Texas Food Bank have found ways to allow people to volunteer safely. In working with the food bank, you’ll be helping Texans affected by COVID-19.

Established in 1982, the Central Texas Food Bank’s mission is to help those in the community in need of food. While Central Texas is among the fastest-growing regions in the U.S., many members of the community are struggling. They have to make difficult choices due to the increasing costs of housing, transportation, healthcare, and utilities.

About the Central Texas Food Bank

Two-thirds of the people the food bank serves have to decide between food and paying for housing. And 80 percent have to choose between food and medicine. Hunger affects working families, retirees on fixed incomes, non-traditional guardians of children, people with disabilities, and the chronically ill. Almost 25 percent of children in Central Texas live with food insecurity.

Working with Partner Agencies in 21 counties in Central Texas, the food bank has delivered almost 40 million pounds of food to a family in need in the 2017 to 2018 fiscal year. This is an average of 200,000 individuals every month!

They have a 4,200-square-foot kitchen to prepare meals from scratch for multiple programs, offer culinary job training, and create volunteering opportunities. The kitchen combines meal preparation and job training to improve people’s employment options and reduce the problems that lead to hunger.

They also have a garden with 36 different crops. Adults can sign up for gardening classes and learn how to grow and harvest their own food. The nonprofit also does advocacy and supports other programs such as Fresh Food for Families, Healthy Options Program for the Elderly (HOPE), Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and more.

How to Volunteer

One of the easiest and safest ways to help the food bank is to donate. Every $1 provides eight meals! Some companies can match your donation. So, check with yours to see if they’ll do it. You can also shop to give. Here, a percentage of your purchases will go to the food bank. It’s possible you may already shop at some of these businesses.

When you volunteer with Central Texas Food Bank, you have a few options. Be aware that the minimum age to participate varies based on activity. All minors must be accompanied by an adult from their household who is at least 21 years old. The first thing to do is to register with the system. Every volunteer, including minors, needs an account.

You can volunteer at a Mobile Food Pantry. This involves distributing food and providing service to clients. Volunteers assist with setup and teardown at the distribution site. Warehouse volunteers inspect, sort, clean, box, and prepare donations for distribution.