Tax-Free Shopping Week Is Underway!

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Nothing signals the start of the school year more than back-to-school shopping. This week, the deals kick off with the state's tax-free shopping season.

Gigi Barnett explains how you can rack up on those savings.

At malls and stores across the state, the second week of August marks the official start of the back to school shopping season. But this week, shoppers who hit the racks can rack up savings as the state kicks off its tax-free week.

"I'm going to buy more 'cause I'm going to have an extra couple of cents to spend," said Marissa White.

That's exactly what the state and retailers want. The six percent shoppers save stays in Maryland.

"The thing I enjoy most about it, people from Delaware come into Maryland. People from Pennsylvania come into Maryland. People from Virginia come into Maryland to shop 'cause everybody wants a deal," said State Comptroller Peter Franchot.

But hold on--not everything is on the tax-free table.

"It's clothing and apparel and shoes that are $100 or less [that's] tax-free. So they're exempt from the six percent sales tax," said White Marsh Mall Spokeswoman Annie Wildasin.

The tax-free savings aren't just for students.

"I just think everyone's so focused with going back to school, they don't really think this is a great time for everyone in your family to get some really, really good deals," said Michelle Belcastro, manager of The Limited.

"It was $28. So it was $28 even," said shopper Heidi Brooks.

Brooks saved on a dress for a wedding. She says the back-to-school shopping for her daughter will get done--but then again...

"She's got a ton of clothes already," she said.

Back to school shopping is the second busiest season of the year for retailers after Christmas. They're hoping it will pull them out of a summer slump.

Tax-free week ends Saturday, August 16.

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