The fourth annual Sales Tax Holiday is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 7 and continuing through Sunday, Aug. 9. The Department of Revenue reminds Tennessee shoppers that the Sales Tax Holiday provides three full days of tax breaks on clothing, school and art
supplies, and computer purchases.

The holiday begins at on Friday, at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, at 11:59 p.m. During the designated three-day weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on select clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less, a savings of nearly 10 percent on exempt items.

gDuring tough economic times, this tax-saving initiative provides savings for Tennessee shoppers and a much needed boost for Tennessee
retailers,h said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. gWe are hopeful that all Tennessee shoppers will enjoy the immediate relief of the 2009 Sales Tax Holiday.h

The Tennessee Department of Revenue also assists consumers via e-mail,
Salestax.Holiday@TN.gov, and through its toll-free statewide
telephone hot line, 800 342-1003. Staff is available to answer questions Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. (Out-of-state and Nashville-area callers, please dial 615 253-0600.)

Examples of exempt items include:
œ Clothing: Shirts, dresses, pants, coats, gloves and mittens,
hats and caps, hosiery, neckties, belts, sneakers, shoes, uniforms
whether athletic or non-athletic and scarves
œ School Supplies: Binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk,
crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks,
paper, rulers and scissors
œ Art Supplies: Clay and glazes; acrylic, tempera and oil paints;
paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors
œ Computers: Central processing unit (CPU), along with various
other components including monitor, keyboard, mouse, cables to connect
components and preloaded software (Note: While the CPU may be purchased
separately, other items must be part of a bundled computer package in
order to be eligible.)

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of
state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws.

The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the department collected $11.2 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.9 billion of local sales tax was collected
by the department for local governments during the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws
fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer
compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for
distribution to the various state funds and local units of government.