Next week is the one parents (and retailers) have been waiting for all summer long: Georgia’s sales tax holiday period, which runs from Thursday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug. 2.

Shoppers will enjoy purchases without Fayette’s 7 percent sales tax on select items including clothing up to $100 per item, personal computers and related accessories up to $1,500 and general school supplies of less than $20 each per item.

Many local parents take advantage of the sales tax holiday each year to stock up on school supplies and buy clothes for their students. Local retailers are preparing to deal with the usual onslaught of shoppers, as the sales tax holiday can translate to long lines at the check-out counters.

The sales tax holiday will also give a shot in the arm to local businesses as Georgia’s economy continues to reel as part of the nationwide recession.

State officials are very specific about what items may and may not be purchased with the sales tax-free advantage.

Clothing accessories such as handbags, umbrellas, cuff links, handkerchiefs, jewelry, key cases, wallets, watches and watch bands, and ponytail holders and/or similar hair products are not exempt from sales taxes during the holiday, officials said.

In the school supply category, all books except children’s books, dictionaries and thesauruses are not tax exempt.

In the computer category non-exempt purchases include games, MP3 players, cellphones, digital cameras, projectors, cases, videogames or any gaming software, LCD and plasma TVs, joysticks and any CD or DVD with pre-recorded content.

The exemptions will not apply to items sold at theme parks, entertainment complexes, hotels, restaurants and airports, state officials said.

More information on the sales tax holiday can be found here.

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