 The governor on Wednesday signed Illinois' back-to-school sales tax
holiday into law.The plan will give parents, or grandparents or
anyone else a break on the state's portion of the sales tax. That'll
translate to about 5 percent off clothes and shoes up to $100 and
just about anything on those lists of school supplies handed out
each year.
The tax break does not include computers or printers or some of
the other back-to-school supplies that many parents will be buying.
Quinn hopes that parents won't skip those items.
"When people come into the marketplace to buy school supplies,
they may find other items that are not exempt that they want to buy
for their family or their needs," the governor said.
In other words, said David Vite with the Illinois Retail
Merchants, people can save enough on the basics that they may
splurge on something else this year.
"They may save enough money to buy a new computer. They may save
enough money to buy a printer. They save enough money (to buy
something) that they weren't able to purchase before, because they
have a few extra dollars in their pocket," he said.
The sales tax holiday will run from Aug. 6 to 15. And the local
portion of the sales tax, which varies from community to community,
will still apply.
But Vite believes shoppers are likely to find more than just "5
percent off."
"The fact that there is a sales tax promotion -- retailers are
also going to promote a little deeper. So there's going to be
additional benefit there," he said.
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The governor says the best way to get the state out of its
financial hole is for people to pump money into the economy.
"You've got to try some new things. ... We're working as hard as
we can to encourage everyone to get involved in our economy," said
Quinn.
And Vite said that means everyone. He believes Illinois' sales
tax holiday could lure shoppers from Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri,
Kentucky and Indiana into the state.
"Our shoppers have been going to Iowa for their sales tax
holiday. Our shoppers have been going over to Missouri for their
sales tax holiday. It's now time for some of those folks to come
back over to the really great state of Illinois to purchase their
goods and services," he said.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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