Sales tax takes a back-to-school holiday

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Students may not get too excited for back-to-school, but in many states there's cause for parents to smile, as it's the start of a tax holiday season.

In coming weeks, 14 states and the District of Columbia will waive sales taxes for a limited time, according to CCH Tax & Accounting, a tax information provider.

Those periods will let consumers save on a wide range of items, from pencils and paper to electronics and computers.

"Tax holidays are popular with retail merchants and, needless to say, families with back-to-school expenses," said CCH State Tax Analyst Dan Schibley in a statement.

Shoppers may have to deal with local sales taxes, however.

There are few changes this year from state to state:

Maryland is not offering a tax holiday, which it did in 2006, because its state government did not re-authorize it. Louisiana and Oklahoma are offering holidays for the first time this year. And Florida has shifted its holiday from July to August.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), back-to-school is the second-most important selling period for retailers after the fourth-quarter holiday period.

The NRF estimates that families with school-age children are expected to spend an average of about $564 this year on new computers, clothes, shoes and other items, a 6.9 percent increase from last year. Total back-to-school sales are forecast to rise 4.5 percent to $18.4 billion.

Below are the different states offering tax holidays, the dates of the break and what items will qualify, according to CCH.

Dates: August 3-5

Items covered: Clothing costing $100 or less per article, or a single purchase costing $750 or less of computers, software and tech supplies. Non-business purchases of school supplies up to $50 per item, and books up to $30 apiece.

Dates: August 19-25

Items covered: Clothing and footwear costing less than $300. Does not apply to athletic clothes, jewelry or handbags.

Dates: August 4-12

Items covered: Sales of school supplies, clothing, accessories and shoes for $100 or less are exempt from sales tax.

Dates: August 4-13

Items covered: Books, clothing, footwear and some accessories with a price of $50 or less per item and school supplies costing $10 or less per item, are exempt. The exemption doesn't count, however, if you're in a theme park, airport or entertainment complex.

Dates: August 2-5

Items covered: School supplies up to $20 per item and footwear up to $100 per article. Computers and related accessories are exempt for a single purchase of $1,500 or less.

Dates: August 3-4

Items covered: Clothing and footwear less than $100 per item.

Dates: August 3-4

Items covered: In a broader-than-usual rule, the first $2,500 of the price of most personal items will be tax-free. The holiday covers purchases for non-business use, and doesn't include transactions including vehicles, meals, services, leases or rentals.

Dates: August 11-12

Items covered: Any personal item up to $2,500.

Dates: August 3-5

Items covered: Clothing and footwear less than $100; school supplies costing $50 or less; computer software with a value of $350 or less; and computers for less than $3,500.

Dates: August 3-5

Items covered: Clothing or shoes sold for less than $100 excluding athletic gear; computers at less than $1,000; computer accessories at less than $500; office and school supplies under $15.

Dates: August 3-5

Items covered: Clothing and school supplies costing less than $100; computers with a sale price of $3,500 or less; computer supplies less than $250.

Dates: August 3-5

Items covered: Clothing and footwear less than $100.

Dates: August 3-5

Items covered: Clothing, accessories, shoes, school supplies, computers, printers, software and linens are exempt. Items are also exempt from all local taxes. Jewelry and cosmetics are not exempt.

Dates: August 3-5

Items covered: Clothing and school supplies costing $100 or less; computers costing $1,500 or less.

Dates: August 17-19

Items covered: Clothing, shoes and backpacks less than $100, except athletic clothing.

Dates: August 3-5

Items covered: Clothing and shoes less than $100 and school supplies less than $20.