BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

                Florida legislators passed a tax holiday that will benefit parents purchasing clothing and supplies for the upcoming school year. The sales tax holiday begins this weekend.

The 2012 Sales Tax Holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m., on Friday, August 3 and end at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 5. Although the holiday coincides with the beginning of the school year, anyone can benefit from it.

This year, books are not exempt during the holiday weekend. The exemption does not apply to any item of clothing that sells for more than $75, or school supply items that sell for more than $15.

A manufacturer’s coupon cannot be used to reduce the price of an item. However, store coupons or discounts can be used.

Some of the clothing items that qualify for the tax exemption are: baby clothes, blouses, skirts, pants, uniforms, caps, hats, choir and altar clothing, coats, wraps, dresses, gloves, employee uniforms, school uniforms, work uniforms, athletic uniforms, fishing vests, hunting vests, ties, etc.

Backpacks, belts, baseball cleats, boots, shoes, aprons, cleated and spiked shoes, etc., are exempt.

Braces and supports worn to correct or alleviate a physical incapacity or injury is also exempt.

School items that can be purchased includes binders, calculators, cellophane tape, colored pencils, compasses, composition books, computer disks, construction paper, crayons, folders, legal pads, markers, notebook paper, pencils, pens, rulers, scissors, etc.

Staplers, staples, toner and ink cartridges, jump drives, flash drives, are not exempt from taxes.