Shoppers can save big bucks on tax free weekend

St. Charles Parish, in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Revenue, announces the 2007 Sales Tax Holiday, which will be from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 3, through 12 midnight on Saturday, August 4.

The parish council voted unanimously at its July 2, meeting to approve the ordinance authorizing the tax-free days.

The holiday provides an exemption, state and parish wide, from sales tax on the first $2,500 of the price of most consumer goods for personal use. That’s a savings of 9 percent which can add up on big ticket items like jewelry and TV’s -- a $45 savings for every $500.

In addition to the specific exclusions in the Act for vehicles and meals, the state sales tax holiday will not apply to purchases of taxable services (hotel occupancy; amusement, recreational, and athletic admissions; repairs to tangible personal property; laundry services; vehicle parking; the furnishing of cold storage space; printing services; and telecommunication services) or to leases or rentals of tangible personal property.

In order to receive the tax exemption, the customer must do one of the following:

• Must purchase and accept delivery of eligible property;

• Must place property on layaway;

• Must pay for and acquire possession of property that was previously placed on layaway; or

• Must place and pay for an order for immediate shipment, even if delivery must be delayed. However, the delay in delivery must not be at the request of the purchaser.