Hoping to keep thousands of residents from fleeing across state lines to
stock up on new fall and winter clothes, Maryland for the first time will
lift
its 5 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear for one week, starting
Aug. 10.
"Shop Maryland Week: More Clothes, Less Tax," was approved last year
by the General Assembly and is designed to coincide with back-to-school
shopping. The tax-free week will run from Aug. 10 to 16 statewide.
""Shop Maryland Week' will help families save money on their
back-to-school shopping, while supporting local merchants," said state
Comptroller William Donald Schaefer, who announced the sales tax-free
week today during a news conference at the Eddie Bauer store at
Arundel Mills in Hanover.
Mr. Schaefer also filmed a public service announcement about the
tax-free week this morning. The advertisement will air on radio and
television, starting Aug. 6, said Christine Duray, his spokesman.
Retail merchants, who are planning special sales and promotions during
the week, hope the event will encourage Marylanders to shop at home
instead of going out of state looking for bargains.
"It's no secret retail sales have not been what (retailers) would have
liked
them to be this year," said Thomas Saquella, president of the
Annapolis-based Maryland Retailers Association.
"We're hoping that the combination of the tax-free week, as well as the
federal income tax refund checks, will give a boost to retailers."
During the tax-free week, customers won't have to pay Maryland's 5
percent sales tax on any item of clothing or footwear that costs less than
$100.
For example, an individual could buy a $60 pair of shoes, a $40 pair of
pants and a $30 shirt and pay no sales tax on any of the items -- even
though the total bill would be $130 -- because each item costs less than
$100. In this case, the customer would save $6.50 in sales tax.
The tax-free week -- which is modeled on sales tax holidays in states such
as New York, Florida and Texas -- doesn't apply to accessory items, such
as jewelry, watches, handbags and ties.
The tax-free week will be in effect only this year. The Comptroller's
Office will compile a report for lawmakers evaluating its impact.
Lawmakers will then have to decide whether to continue it.
Supporters of the measure -- including all 18 members of Anne Arundel's
legislative delegation -- say it will benefit poor families, who are
disproportionately harmed by the sales tax.
The measure also will keep shopping dollars in Maryland, rather than
allowing them to flow to neighboring states such as Delaware, which has
no sales tax, and Pennsylvania, which doesn't tax clothing.
"It's a small step, but any little savings can go a long way," said state
Sen.
Ed DeGrange, D-Glen Burnie.
"Every little bit helps," agreed Del. Janet Greenip, R-Crofton.
But critics of the tax-free week say it's nothing more than a costly
gimmick.
"The savings are insignificant to the average family," said Annapolis
resident and private thrift consultant Eileen Coale.. "It offers no
meaningful savings whatsoever."
Last year, the average family spent about $455 on back-to-school items,
she said. With the tax-free week, that family will save about $22.75.
In addition, fiscal analysts estimate that state sales tax revenues will
drop
by about $6.7 million as a result of the tax-free week -- about 0.3 percent
of the $2.8 billion Maryland collects annually from the sales tax, Ms.
Duray said.
But Towson University economist Anirban Basu said the week is more
than a gimmick.
"The consequences are real," he said. "People like to save whenever they
can."
Published July 24, 2001, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 2001 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.