The annual sales tax-free weekend for back-to-school-related purchases began at 12:01 a.m. today and ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
During the sales tax holiday, the second-annual Stuff the Bus campaign will take place at Washington’s Wal-Mart from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. “Help us Stuff the Bus with school supplies so every child in our county will have the back to school materials they need to succeed,” proclaims a flier publicizing the event.
“This community never fails to rally around needs for children. Even in tough economic times, we are always pleasantly surprised at how people will turn out to help the students of our county. We hope holding this event during tax-free weekend will make it easier for people to give. One pack of pencils here and there adds up to a lot of support. We thank the community in advance for their continued support,” said Sarah Hodges, public information officer for Beaufort County Schools.
During this weekend, many school-related supplies may be purchased without having to pay the usual sales taxes on them. During the sales tax holiday, clothing, footwear and school supplies of $100 or less per item, sports and recreation equipment of $50 or less per item, computers of $3,500 or less per item and computer supplies of $250 or less per item will be exempt from state and local sales taxes.
The sales tax holiday applies to state and local sales and use taxes. The back-to-school sales tax holiday was enacted by the N.C. Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Mike Easley in 2001.
The sales tax holiday means that for each $100 spent on eligible items in Beaufort County, the consumer saves $6.75 in sales tax, according to the N.C. Department of Revenue’s website. The combined state and local sales taxes in Beaufort County come to 6.75 cents per dollar. For each $100 in purchases made in Pitt County, customers will save $7. The combined state and local sales taxes in Pitt County come to 7 cents per dollar.
This weekend’s back-to-school-related sales tax holiday will be the 11th one, with the first one in 2001.
Clothing accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, protective equipment, wallets, furniture, items used in a trade or business and rentals are not covered by the exemption and will be subject to the applicable taxes.

Stuff the Bus
campaign
recommended items
Pencils and erasers
Pens
Scissors
Crayons
Glue sticks
Notebook paper
Folders
Spiral notebooks
Headphones
Hand sanitizer
Back packs (no wheels)
Pencil bags/boxes
Sandwich bags
(all sizes)
Tissues
Rulers
Highlighters
Three-ring binders
Colored pencils