Maryland tax free shopping week is coming next week August 12-18, 2012.

Qualifying clothes and shoes under $100 each will not have the regular 6% sales tax added to the purchase during that time period. You can buy any number of individual items under $100 – there is no limit!

The tax free shopping benefits do not include accessories such as backpacks, hats, scarves, and headbands. The Comptroller’s office website also wants to clarify that sports pads, helmets and equipment are not included in tax free sales.

Specifics from the bulletin about the tax free periods from the Comptroller’s website:

Accessories, including jewelry, watches, watchbands, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, belt buckles, and backpacks will be taxable. And special clothing or footwear designed primarily for protective use and not for normal wear, such as football pads, will be taxable.

If you have not gotten your back-to-school clothes, need some new work-wear, or want to build your fall wardrobe, next week is the time to get those duds! Tax Free Shopping in Maryland begins on the second Sunday of each August and runs to the following Saturday, per legislation passed in 2007.

So, come out to support your Maryland stores this week, and save some money while doing so!