Aug. 6--MORGANTON -- With the federal government offering rebates for clunkers and first-time homebuyer rebates to stimulate the economy, North Carolina this year is still offering a sales tax-free weekend.

The sales tax-free weekend starts Friday and runs until Sunday. The sales tax in Burke County is 6.75 percent.

Items that can be purchased tax-free are:

--Clothing, footwear and school supplies of $100 or less per item. Diapers, including children and adults, also are tax exempt, as is wedding apparel.

--School instructional materials of $300 or less per item.

--Sports and recreational equipment of $50 or less per item.

--Computers of $3,500 or less per item.

--Computer supplies of $250 or less per item.

Some retailers in Burke County are making sure they will have sufficient staff to handle what they hope will be a busy weekend.

Kmart Manager Toni Travis said she's expecting more people to turn out because the store has been busy lately with back-to-school shopping.

The store will announce blue light specials Saturday every 30 minutes, Travis said.

Walmart Manager Brandon Revis said this weekend will certainly be a smarter time for people to buy school supplies because they will save on the sales tax.

Revis said the store will have new sales papers out for customers and will make the tax-free items a little more convenient for customers to find.

Belk Manager Jonathan Savage said the store will be fully staffed because the tax-free weekend coincides with the store's back-to-school weekend.

"Certainly, we're hoping it's going to be a big weekend," Savage said.

According to Gov. Beverly Perdue's Office, participation in the sales tax holiday is mandatory for retailers in the state. Retailers cannot require customers to pay sales taxes during the holiday and require them to apply to have the taxes refunded for items that are exempt.

For a full list of tax-free items, visit www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sales/salestax_holiday.h... [http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sales/salestax_holiday.html] or call the state Department of Revenue at 1-877-252-3052.

To see more of The News Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.morganton.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, The News Herald, Morganton, N.C.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

<< -- 08/07/2009>>