Can you shop online tax-free during tax-free weekend? (Getty)
If you’re shopping online, can you take advantage of tax-free weekend? Twelve states are participating this weekend, and many shoppers want to know if this applies to online shopping as well.
Here’s what you need to know.
Yes, in most cases, if a state is participating in tax-free weekend, that means that you can also shop online tax-free too. Of course, the items you buy must meet the requirements for tax free weekend and you must shop before tax-free weekend ends. (Read more about which items qualify here.)
Eight states have specifically said, on their websites, that qualifying items can be purchased tax-free by mail, online, or by phone, according to Bankrate. These are Florida, Iowa, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, South Carolina, and Virginia. This doesn’t mean the other states won’t offer tax-free prices too, but you should check your shopping cart first to see before purchasing. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all fees will disappear when you’re purchasing online. You’ll still have to pay for shipping, for example. But as long as you order the item during the tax-free weekend, you won’t be charged taxes even if it’s shipped after this weekend is over.
If you do shop online, don’t forget to check and see if the online store is offering any coupon codes. Many stores will offer codes that you can stack on top of the tax-free special, giving you even greater savings.
Amazon, for example, is offering tax-free purchases in participating states where it’s required to collect tax, according to Bankrate. But there’s a catch: no all independent retailers who sell through Amazon will be offering the same deal.
