Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

State Senator Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City) today encouraged citizens to take advantage of Tennessee’s new and traditional sales tax holidays which are set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30. The 16th annual tax holiday on clothing, school supplies and computers will run through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1; while a new sales tax holiday on food, food ingredients, and prepared food will remain in effect through the end of the day on Thursday, Aug. 5. The new holiday includes the qualified sales of prepared food by restaurants, food trucks, caterers and grocery stores.

“This year we have added a week-long sales tax holiday on food on top of the already popular three-day sales tax holiday that is provided each year. The traditional sales tax holiday targets relief for parents and teachers by including clothing, computers and school supplies for the upcoming school year but can be used by any citizen buying the exempted products. 

“The new sales tax holiday will provide a wider reach in our tax relief efforts by including prepared and unprepared food products, and will hopefully boost sales at our restaurants which have been especially hurt by the effects of the pandemic,” he added. “The new holiday will last a full week.” 

In addition, Sen. Crowe said legislation passed by the General Assembly this year provided a sales tax holiday on gun safes and safety devices. The year-long holiday began on July 1, 2021, and ends on June 30, 2022. It helps encourage safe storage of firearms. 

“I hope all citizens will get out and take advantage of the sales tax relief offered this year and that they will visit our local stores to give them a boost,” Crowe concluded.