sales tax holidays

As states grapple with huge budget deficits, some of them are eliminating sales taxes for back-to-school shoppers. But are sales tax holidays really a good value for consumers? Experts discuss the true costs of the programs and some of the alternatives.

Preparing to shop for schools clothes and supplies? WAIT! Your state, or one near you, may be offering a tax holiday soon, a few days in which the sales tax on such items is waived. Why wouldn't you wait a little to save 6% or more?North Carolina, for example, will drop sales tax on clothing,...

The state tax holiday idea is spreading as the economic turmoil saps the income of middle-class Americans. The idea is that a state picks a day or more on which it waives state sales tax on purchases of selected types of goods. Some states use it as a carrot to encourage purchases of more...