Mississippi residents across the state will save money when they buy back-to-school clothing for their children Friday and Saturday, July 29 and 30, during the state’s third Sales Tax Holiday.

Retailers will not charge the state sales tax on clothing and footwear that cost less than $100 an item. While geared toward helping families prepare their children for the upcoming school year, the sales tax holiday also applies to adult clothing and footwear.

“This is a great way to help ease the financial burden of parents as they prepare their children to start a new school year,” said state Rep. Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee and author of the 2009 legislation that created the sales tax holiday.

The 2009 bill, House Bill 348, suspends the state sales tax of seven cents on the dollar for the purchase of clothing and footwear – including pants, shirts, blouses, dresses, coats, belts and shoes.

The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 29 and ends at midnight Saturday, July 30.

The sales tax holiday does not apply to school supplies, computers, jewelry, handbags, wallets, backpacks and other similar merchandise. If residents purchase any of those items on Friday or Saturday, they must pay the full state sales tax.

Five cities in the state have chosen not to participate in the sales tax holiday: Bolton, Crenshaw, Enterprise, Heidelberg and Magnolia. People who purchase any goods and services in those cities – including items eligible for the sales tax holiday – must pay the full state sales tax.