Georgia shoppers to miss out on tax-free ‘holiday’

Georgia shoppers will miss out on a popular tax-free holiday weekend for 2017.

State legislators have shut down the sales tax-free weekend this year, after people were able to save some money in previous years by purchasing certain merchandise over the two-day period. The tax-free days were especially popular for parents and teachers who were able to make school-related purchases just before the start of a new school year.

This year’s tax-free weekend would have taken place from July 29-30, according to ajc.com.

The reason for not having the tax-free weekend is based on economics.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported in 2016 there was push back among some groups because of doubts about the ‘holiday’ spurring economic growth. Also, the Tax Foundation think-tank said that in some cases retailers were actually raising prices over that weekend.

The state would also save millions of dollars by not having the holiday, some officials said.

The Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget estimated in 2016 Georgians would save $75 million during the sales tax-free weekend. The tax-free items included clothing under $100 per item, computers and other computer-related technology under $1,000 and school supplies.

Even some Middle Georgia businesses would tack on further discounts for shoppers.

This story was originally published June 30, 2017 at 10:20 AM with the headline "Georgia shoppers to miss out on tax-free ‘holiday’."