NEW YORK, NY –The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance kicked off the back to school shopping season today by reminding New Yorkers that qualifying clothing and footwear purchases are exempt from New York sales tax year-round. While many states offer “sales tax holidays” leading up to the school year, New York has a constant exemption from the State’s 4% sales tax on items of clothing and footwear sold for less than $110.
“The back to school shopping season is underway and, in New York State, every day is a sales tax holiday with shoppers getting a break on clothing and footwear items sold for under $110,” New York State Commissioner of Taxation Finance Jerry Boone said. “This exemption leads to big savings for parents and consumers leading up to the school year and year-round.”
Through this exemption, all shoppers are free from paying the State’s 4% sales tax. In addition, in New York City and the eight counties listed below, clothing and footwear items under $110 are exempt from local sales tax year-round. The savings available in these localities, including State and local sales taxes, is between 7 ½% and 8 7/8%.
The state exemption alone saves New York shoppers more than $876 million annually. Together, savings from the state and local sales tax exemptions is well over $1 billion annually.
Exempting local sales tax from clothing/footwear under $110
New York City
Chautauqua County
Chenango County
Columbia County
Delaware County
Greene County
Hamilton County
Tioga County
Wayne County
College Textbooks
Course textbooks purchased by college students are also exempt from New York State and local sales and use taxes. This exemption is also available throughout the year.
Purchases can be made from any bookstore, including college or university bookstores, by mail order, over the internet or by other means.
