2023 Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend Aug 11-13
Sales Tax Waived On Qualifying School Supplies, Clothes, Shoes and Student Backpacks Priced Under $100 This Weekend in Texas
If you’re planning to buy school clothes or supplies, waiting until this weekend to do so could prove monetarily advantageous as this weekend is the annual sales tax holiday in Texas.
State law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The Comptroller’s office estimates that shoppers will save $112 million in state and local sales tax during this sales tax holiday. This year’s sales tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 11, and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 13.
“With inflation driving prices higher on just about everything, this sales tax holiday provides Texas families some small relief managing the costs associated with kids heading back to the classroom. As the father of three school-aged children myself, I know how these expenses can add up,” Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said of the upcoming sales tax holiday.
First enacted in 1999, the back-to-school sales tax holiday allows Texas shoppers (any shopper making a qualifying purchase in Texas) to save money during one weekend by waiving sales tax on qualifying school supplies, clothes, shoes and student backpacks priced under $100. The dates of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.
So what items under $100 are tax free during the holiday? Most footwear and clothing sold for less than $100. The exemption applies to each eligible item sold for less than $100, and there is no limit to the number of qualifying items that may be bought at one time.
For example, if you buy two shirts for $80 each, each shirt qualifies for the exemption because each is less than $100, even though the total purchase price is $160.
Cloth and disposable fabric face masks meet the definition of an article of clothing and are exempt from sales tax during the upcoming Sales Tax Holiday. However, industrial or medical grade masks (N95 or other masks designed as personal protective equipment) or other similar personal protection equipment are not exempt during the sales tax holiday. If a cloth or disposable fabric face mask is sold with a filter, the mask is exempt during the holiday; however, replacement filters are taxable.
More information can be obtained by visiting the Texas Comptroller’s Website.
Additional clothing items priced under $100 that qualify for the tax exemption include:
- Household aprons
- Baby Bibs
- Baby Clothes
- Belts with attached Buckles
- Blouses and Shirts: Hooded Shirts and Sweatshirts, Jerseys (baseball, football, etc.), Bowling Shirts, Sweaters
- Boots: General Purpose, Cowboy and Hiking
- Bow Ties, Neckwear, Ties, Scarfs, Shawls, Wraps
- Camp Clothes
- Caps (baseball, fishing, golf, knitted)
- Chef Uniforms
- Children’s Novelty Costumes
- Clerical Vestments
- Coats and Wraps
- Coveralls
- Diapers (adult and baby/cloth and disposable,)
- Dresses and Skirts (including golf dresses and tennis skirts)
- Cold Weather Earmuffs
- Gloves (general, dress, leather)
- Jackets, Windbreakers, Coats, Wraps,
- Graduation caps and gowns
- Gym Suits and Uniforms, Workout clothes
- Hats (including knitted)
- Hooded shirts and sweatshirts
- Hosiery (including support hosiery) and Panty Hose
- Hunting Vests
- Jeans, Pants and Shorts: Jogging Pants and Apparel, Painter Pants, Slacks, Tennis Shorts, Trousers
- Leg Warmers
- Masks: costume, cloth and disposable fabric face masks
- Nightgowns, Nightshirts, Pajamas, Sleepwear
- Raincoats, Ponchos and Rain Hats
- Religious Clothes, Clerical Vestments
- Robes
- Scout Uniforms
- Suits, Slacks, jackets
- Shoes: General, Boat shoes, dress shoes, jellies, running shoes without cleats, safety shoes suitable for everyday wear, sandals, slippers, sneakers and tennis shoes, walking shoes, cross trainers, flip-flogs (rubber thongs),
- Socks: athletic, soccer
- Suspenders
- Under Garments: Bras, Slips, Tights, Underpants, Underclothes, Undershirts, Leotards, Tights
- Uniforms: School, Work, Nurse, Waitress, Military, Postal, Police, Fire, work clothes and uniforms (unless rented)
- Vests: General, Non-Flotation Fishing, Hunting
Clothing items that do not qualify for the tax exemption include clothing subscription boxes; specially-designed athletic activity or protective-use clothing or footwear, clothing or footwear rentals; alterations (including embroidery) and cleaning services; and items used to make or repair clothing, such as fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks and zippers.
Among the clothing, footwear and other wearable items specifically listed because they DO NOT qualify for the tax exemption are:
- Bathing Caps
- Baseball, Sports and Athletic Accessories Accessories and Gear: Cleats, Padding and Pads (knee, elbow, football, shoulder, hockey, soccer), Gloves, Pants, Swim Fins, Football Pants, Sports Helmets (including bike and motorcycle), Golf Purses, Shin Guards
- Belt Buckles, Belts For Weight Lifting
- Cloth, Lace, Knitting Yarn, Fabrics, Zippers, Snaps, Hooks, Buttons, Thread, Iron-On Patches, Patterns, Embroidery, Tapes, Shoulder Pads (for dresses, jackets, etc.) or other items used to make or repair clothing.
- Corsages, Boutonnieres
- Dry Cleaning Services
- Ear Muffs: Noise Cancellation or Noise Cancelling
- Gloves: baseball, batting, bicycle, garden, golf, hockey, rubber, surgical, tennis, work
- Hair Accessories: Barrettes, Bobby Pins, Elastic Ponytail Holders, Hair Bows, Hair Clips, Headbands, Head Nets, Ribbons,
- Handkerchiefs, Pocket Squares
- Ice Skates, Roller Skates, Roller Blades
- Life Jackets and Vests, Personal Flotation Devices, Wet and Dry Suits
- Masks: N95, Welder, Umpire, Swim or Other similar Personal Protective Equipment, Swimming Masks and Goggles,
- Monogramming Services
- Personal Protective Equipment and Safety Accessories: Chest Protectors, Goggles, Hard Hats, Paint or Dust Respirators and Incidental Supplies, Gloves, Safety Clothing (worn in hazardous occupations), Safety Glasses, Safety Shoes (not adaptable for street wear), bulletproof vests,
- Rented Clothing (including uniforms, formal wear, costumes)
- Repair of Clothing or Footwear, including shoe shines
- Shoes and Boots: Ballet, Baseball Cleats, Cleated Bicycle Shoes, Cleated or Spiked, Climbing Boots, Rubber Work Boots, Ski Boots, Fishing Boots and Waders, Bowling Shoes (rented or sold), Golf Shoes, Overshoes and Galoshes, Football Shoes, Golf Shoes, Jazz and Dance Shoes, Tap/Dance Shoes, Track Cleats,
- Shoe Accessories or Repairs: Insoles, Inserts, Shoelace
- Sunglasses (except prescription)
- Umbrellas
- Vests: Bulletproof, Flotation, Scuba, Water-ski
- Watches, Watch Bands, Wallets, Purses,
- Wristbands
Similarly, student backpacks sold for less than $100 each are tax exempt, but that does not extend to luggage. Backpacks with wheels and messenger bags are included among the exempt items, in fact, up to 10 backpacks can be purchased tax free at one time during the sales tax-free weekend (without providing a completed exemption certificate). The tax statute specifically lists among the items that do not qualify for tax exemption this weekend: framed backpacks, luggage, briefcases, athletic bags, gym bags, duffle bags, computer bags, purses.
Also on the list of items people will be required to pay tax on regardless of the ticket price this weekend are jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, other accessories.
Among the school supplies that ARE on the tax-exempt list include:
- Binders
- Blackboard chalk
- Book bags
- Calculators
- Cellophane tape
- Compasses
- Composition books
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Folders – expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
- Glue, paste and paste sticks
- Highlighters
- Index cards
- Index card boxes
- Kits ** (For kits of school supplies that contain exempt items, as well as taxable ones, the taxability depends on the value of exempt or taxable items in it. There is no limit on the quantity of school supplies in a kit, but if the value of the exempt items is more than the taxable ones, the kit is exempt. If the value of the taxable items is more than the exempt ones, then the kit is taxable).
- Legal pads
- Lunch boxes
- Markers (including dry erase markers)
- Notebooks
- Paper – loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
- Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
- Pencil sharpeners
- Pencils
- Pens
- Protractors
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Writing tablets
Supplies that are NOT exempt this weekend include:
- computers
- software
- textbooks.
Grand Jury Indictments for August 2023
Links are provided if details of the arrests are available.
ARDON,MANUEL ANTONIO – MONEY LAUNDERING >=52,500<$30K
BAILEY,ERIC ANDERSON – POSS CS PG1/1B <1G DFZ IAT 481.115
GREAVES, FAITH EMILY – POSS CS PG1/1B <1G DFZ IAT 481.115
BOYKIN, TIFFANY DAWN – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
HARDMON,CHRISTOPHER RAY – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
BRITTON,BRADLEY KEITH – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G
MCPHERSON, NESSICA RACHELE – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G
MCPHERSON, NESSICA RACHELE – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
DUVALL, EUGENE PERCELL II – MAN DEL CS PG 1-B >=4G<200G DFZ
GARLAND, DARIUS ANDIAN – UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON
GARLAND,DARIUS ANDIAN – TAMPER/FABRICATE PHYS EVID W/INTENT TO IMPAIR
GARZA, ALEXANDER – UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON
GARZA, ALEXANDER – POSS CS PG1/1B <1G DFZ IAT 481.115
HARVELL, JHERICO LASHEA – POSS CS PG1/1B 1G DFZ IAT 481.115
HARVELL, JHERICO LASHEA – THEFT OF FIREARM
GREAVES,CHRISTOPHER GRADY – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G
HARP,HEATH JUSTIN – UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE
HERNANDEZ-JINEZ,RAMIRO – TAMPER/FABRICATE PHYS EVID W/INTENT TO IMPAIR
HERNANDEZ-JINEZ,RAMIRO – PROH SUBSTANCE/ITEM iN CORR/CIV COM FACILITY
HERNANDEZ,CASHIUS ANTONIO – TAMPER/FABRICATE PHYS EVID W/INTENT TO IMPAIR
HERNANDEZ,CASHIUS ANTONIO – MAN/DEL CS CAUSE DEATH OR SBI IAT
INFANTE, ROBERT RAY – SEX ABUSE OF CHILD CONTINUOUS: VICTIM UNDER 14
LANG,RICHARD LEE – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G 200G
LIBIGS,ALYSSA MARIE – POSS CSPG2>=1G<4G
SELF, HEATHER LASHAY – FORGERY GOVT/NATIONAL INST/MONEY/SECURITY
Clarksville Woman Arrested For Theft
August 8, 2023 – A 47 year-old Clarksville, TX woman was arrested and charged with felony theft at a south Broadway retailer this week.
Kristal Dawn McMahon, aka Kristal Shourd aka Kristal Asbridge was previously convicted twice for theft. That activity elevated her current charge to a felony.
McMahon, who lists herself as unemployed, was caught on surveillance attempting to steal merchandise with a value over $100.
Sulphur Springs Police arrived at the business, mirandize her and started an interview. McMahon allegedly confessed to the crime. She was arrested and transported to Hopkins County Jail without incident. She is charged with:
1 31.03(E)(4)(D) THEFT PROP <$2,500 2/MORE PREV CONV
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Summer 2023 Featured Multiple Highlights for the Miller Grove FFA
The Divorce Care Support Group Will Meet Beginning August 16th
The Divorce Care Support Group will meet every Wednesday beginning August 16, 2023. The group will last for 13 weeks and will meet at 6:00pm each Wednesday night. The location for the meetings is the basement of the First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs, Texas. There will be signs to direct attendees to the correct meeting room. For more details about the Divorce Care Support Group, contact Debbie Young at 903-303-4771, or Tom Young at 903-413-1673.
Learn Vital Skills in Welding and Other Fields at Paris Junior College
WELDING PROJECT
Brandon Mitchell of Campbell, a welding student at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Welding Center, is working on a Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) is an arc welding process that produces the weld.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
EDC Executive Director to Retire
Roger Feagley Announces Retirement – Chris Brown Chosen As Successor
The Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County EDC will see a passing of the torch after almost 2 decades of success with Roger Feagley at the helm. Roger has announced he will retire in January, 2024, which will mark 19 years of service, providing assistance and resources of over $14m to nearly 40 local companies and projects. “It has been a pleasure to serve the Sulphur Springs community and it will continue to be our home” Feagley said. “We appreciate Roger’s service and dedication to Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County” stated Tom Sellers, President of Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County EDC Board.
Roger has been the Executive Director of the Sulphur Springs Hopkins County EDC since 2005 and currently serves as Chairman of Team Texas, a member-based business attraction program through Texas Economic Development Council, the professional association for Texas economic developers. While working for Sulphur Springs, Roger has served in several capacities for the TEDC Board and the Board for Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas, as well as being a member of numerous professional organizations, and has been given the distinction of “Fellow” with the Industrial Asset Management Council.
“The Board of Directors of the Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County EDC is excited to announce the appointment of Chris Brown as the new Executive Director” stated Board President Sellers. He will start with the SSEDC September 18 th of this year. Brown has served as the Executive Director of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) for almost 10 years. He and his family still live in Sulphur Springs and have strong ties to the community.
Brown is currently serving on boards for the Hopkins County Hospital District, the HC Chamber of Commerce, and NETBIO. Prior to ATCOG, Brown served as the Hopkins County Judge and as Mayor/Council Member for the City of Sulphur Springs. Brown is also the 1 st Vice President for the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and Vice-Chair for TEX-21. His state level involvement has also included the Texas Assoc. of Counties and the Texas Assoc. of Regional Councils. “For over 20 years I’ve had the pleasure to support the work of many EDCs and help bring opportunities to all Northeast Texas,” Brown said. “I look forward to learning from Roger over the next few months and focusing in on continuing the great work of the SSEDC.”
Fleeing From Police Ends In Arrest
August 7, 2023 – A 21 year-old precinct 4 resident was arrest near the intersection of Tate and Craig street this weekend. The man attempted to outrun police because he thought he had forgotten his drivers license at home.
At around 10:30 PM Saturday night, Sulphur Springs Police attempted to stop Marcelo Flores for a minor traffic violation. Flores did not immediately stop. He accelerated to a high rate of speed then ran a stop sign before stopping for police.
When asked why he attempted to evade Police, Flores stated that he was afraid he had left his driving license at home. It is unclear if Flores was in possession of his driving license at the time of his arrest. It is clear that the police found marijuana in his car.
His KIA Spectra was impounded. He is charged with:
1 38.04(B)(2)(A) EVADING ARREST W/VEH (FS)
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Juan Hernandez-Ruiz Charged with Murder
A Sulphur Springs resident was arrested at 4:40am early Sunday morning, August 6, 2023 after a report of a man covered with blood in the 700 block of Texas St. Sulphur Springs police officers responded to the scene at 4:10am to find Giovanni Lopez in the street bleeding from his injuries.
During the investigation, officers learned that the victim had been in an altercation earlier in the evening with a suspect Juan Hernandez-Ruiz at the suspect’s house. Lopez left the suspect’s house walking down Texas Street, and it is suspected that Hernandez-Ruiz hit the victim with his 2013 Cadillac Escalade causing the injuries. Giovanni Lopez was transported to Christus Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs where he died. Juan Hernandez-Ruiz, age 29, was transported to the Hopkins County Jail and charged with first degree murder with his bond set at $2 million.
Public Information on Recent Murder
Public Information Release From Jason Ricketson Chief of Police
On Sunday, August 6, 2023, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Officers responded to the 700 block of Texas St. in reference to a subject laying in the road that was bleeding. During the investigation, officers learned
that the victim, identified as Giovanni Lopez, had been run over by the suspect.
The suspect was identified as 29 year-old Juan Hernandez-Ruiz. It was learned that the suspect and victim had been involved in an earlier altercation and believed this was a continuation of that incident. The victim was transported to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Hernandez -Ruiz was taken into custody and transported to the Hopkins County Sheriffs Office and charged with Murder.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
