Here’s what you can buy tax-free this weekend in S.C.

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shoppers in South Carolina can save some money on their purchases soon with the state’s tax-free weekend, which runs from Friday to Sunday.

Certain items are exempt from the state’s 6% sales tax and local sales taxes.

What makes things a little tough this year is changing school schedules.

Aiken County Public Schools, like some others in the region, has gone to a modified schedule that cut the length of the summer break.,

As a result, Aiken County kids have already been back in school for a couple of weeks, even though the tax-free weekend was scheduled with more traditional school calendars in mind.

Some local parents have waited to buy big-ticket items until this weekend in order to save some money.

The tax-free weekend came late this year for Aiken County School parents due to the start of year-round school.

“If it would have happened like two weeks ago I most definitely probably wouldn’t even need the help that I got,” said Karen Yarbroughanglin, an Aiken County School parent.

So they bought almost everything they needed at a hefty price tag.

WHAT’S EXEMPT AND WHAT’S NOT:

“I spent close to $200 with just two kids alone and one is in fourth grade and one is in first grade, which is ridiculous. It’s ridiculous for the pricing. Pricing is already high and outrageous. I mean this definitely would have helped,” said Yarbroughanglin.

News 12 asked online to see when parents were buying school supplies in Aiken County and most of the responses said they bought them before tax-free weekend.

“I definitely would have waited,” said Yarbroughanglin.

But parents wanted to make sure their kids were ready for school.

“I definitely want to have them prepared. As a mother, you always want your kids to be prepared for school. It’s a thing that constantly runs in the back of your mind,” said Yarbroughanglin.

Next year she hopes she doesn’t have to choose.

“Give parents the time to kind of get it in, I feel like they should have done this first,” said Yarbroughanglin.

In general, tax-exempt items are those like supplies used for school assignments, electronics, clothing and shoes, and bed and bath items, all new or used.

Items that are not exempt include rented clothing and shoes, items used in a business or trade, and items placed on layaway or deferred payment plans.

“If you can, only purchase what you need specifically for that moment because there’s a real possibility that if you don’t need it specifically for back-to-school, it’s going to be on sale again for Thanksgiving, Black Friday,” said Michael Watson, who teaches in the University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management.

Experts also caution buyers to beware.

Some stores will raise their prices during this period to make up for discounts.

“Don’t get caught up in the, ‘I’m going to save money and buy a bunch of impulse items,’” Watson said. “Don’t do that, because you’ve just erased a bunch of your savings.”

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