Maryland Tax-Free Week To Be Held Aug. 12 to Aug. 18

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Parents can save a little for back-to-school if they shop the week of Aug. 12.

That's when Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week is this year.

MORE: List of Taxable & Exempt Items

During tax-free week, shoppers will pay no sales tax on clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less and on the first $40 of a backpack purchase.

"I emphasize that this is not just for kids going back to school, although that's how we identify it," said Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot. "It's for any item of clothing or shoewear, anywhere in the state. You get a 6 percent discount. merchants often add discounts on top of that."

Franchot said it might seem like tax-free week would put a hole in the state budget, but "people go and shop not only for the tax-free items but they pick up tax items also."

Maryland retailers are also getting a boost in business.

WJZ talked to Zeke Frantom of Brightside Boutique in Hampden.

"At a time where Amazon is kind of taking over and everybody's shopping online, hopefully with the community that's already established, we can get everybody into Brightside and other local boutiques and spend some of that hard-earned cash for a good value," Frantom said.

Also this year, Maryland college students can win a $2,500 scholarship from the Maryland Retailers Association by entering their social media contest. You have to follow or "Like" Shop Maryland Tax-Free on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

During tax-free week, you have to snap a Maryland themed picture or video of you shopping tax free with the #shopmdtaxfree

Tax-free week has become maryland's third busiest shopping week of the year, according to the comptoller.

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