Tax Free Weekend
Tennessee is having it's first ever tax free weekend beginning today. This is supposed to help parents get supplies for their kids without having to pay state and local taxes on purchases.
But it's really for all Tennesseans, not just parents and families...
This should be very helpful since Tennessee has one of the highest sales taxes in the nation. The sales tax is 9.25%, that really adds up, especially on big ticket items like computers. We do not have a state income tax here, which would alleviate the high sales tax and would have eliminated the tax on food. The tax is also 9.25% on food items, which really hurts the working poor. But a couple of years ago, there was a "Income tax revolution" when an income tax was proposed in the state legislature. People went nuts!! You would have thought state government was trying to revert from democracy to communism... All of this rhetoric was fueled by two nimrod radio hosts, both of whom spouted horrible personal insults on lawmakers.. In the end, b/c of death threats lawmakers were recieving, and the general lack of courage, lawmakers let the bill die, but raised the sales tax another quarter %. It was some of the darkest times Tennessee has ever faced... I for one will never forget it... I was a lobbyist on the Hill at that time..We had the national guard surrounding the capitol b/c of small riots and ongoing protests. We were encouraged to take our state badges off when we went out for lunch downtown, b/c state workers were being harrassed. We working almost around the clock on the budget, I had to be escorted to my car each night by a TBI agent, not b/c I was like in super duper danger, but it was always dark when we left the capitol, and besides that, I think he had a crush on me.... But if the income tax had passed, there would be no tax on food, and the poorest of the poor would recieve a state income tax break...Instead we now have one of the highest sales taxes in the nation... yeah, it has worked out well...
But I digress... so now we have a tax free weekend..I really feel like I should go out and buy some some stuff. It's not in my budget but hey, there's no taxes... I really feel like I should seize this opprotunity... right?
Hope everyone has a great weekend!! I know I will!!
Much love
~Beachgirl
posted by beachgirl @ 9:13 AM
8 Comments:
Tax free weekends are all the rage in St. Louis this weekend! The malls and shops all are sure to be jammed packed with people wanting to avoid the taxes. This is definitely the time to buy back to school clothes, school supplies, computers, and let's not forget shoes!!!
I remember being in TN when all that was going on. I remember idiot punched a whole in the glass doors of the capitol building because he was banging on the door so hard. Crazy madness!
Anyway, take advantage of this weekend, but don't spend more than you normally would. Think of some gifts you need to get :)
Jen- I'll make sure to take advantage of the weekend..you are right, I do have some presents to buy.. Our little molly kate will be here any day!! Much love to you!!
we had a tax-free WEEK in florida..
but hmm, yeah i'm not sure which is worse, the 9.25% sales tax, or the income tax... i don't know how much i like taxing people on what they EARN.. but rather on what they choose to spend (sales tax). Sales tax encourages savings, etc.. but yeah if there's no special supplement for the lower-class than it would have problems. but just in general, taxes suck.. espcially federal taxes..
We had rules for our tax free weekends. Like school supplies over $20 were taxable, as were clothes items over a certain amount. It was a bit ridiculous.
However, I still shopped, my items were taxed. my new obsession http://www.bareminerals.com/
Stonewall- Yes, taxes are awful... especially since we are paying into a system in which we (you and I) will probably never reap the benefits... You're getting ready to leave for the Citadel, are you so excited!!!??
kels- welcome back!! My girlfriends swear by that bare minerals stuff...
Enjoy your shopping weekend! Guess I'm going to miss getting my new computer cheaper becuase I'll still be here in Iraq during the St Louis one!
We have 8.5% with a state income tax, so tax free weeks are always the best! Sometimes its just better running to a neighboring state, like Jersey, to shop! :)
i've never heard of a tax free weekend/week/day before. the vat (value added tax) is 17.5% here in england, but i guess things are generally more expensive here than in the u.s (well, my experiences.
Though, as a drawback, I'd fell guilty about paying no tax, as schools, hospitals and so on need to be paid for, by the rich as well as 'the little people'.
Post a Comment
<< Home