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Senator Helming Pushes for State Sales Tax Break on School Supplies
September 12, 2024
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ISSUE:
- Affordability
![Senator Helming](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/2024/09/12/helming-school-supply-tax-relief-petition.png?itok=gvlALizI)
Senator Helming is asking constituents to sign her petition and rally support in the State Legislature for her bill (S.3442) exempting school supplies, including costly computer equipment, from the 4% state sales and use tax.
According to the National Retail Federation, families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on clothing, shoes, school supplies and electronics for back to school. This is about $15 less than last year’s record of $890.07 but is the second-highest amount in the survey’s history. Total back-to-school spending is expected to reach $38.8 billion, also the second-highest figure on record, after last year’s high of $41.5 billion.
“Families across New York continue to pay higher prices, whether at the gas pump or the grocery store. Family budgets get squeezed even tighter during back-to-school season. Average spending on electronics and school supplies alone is upwards of $450. Let’s be smart and provide some tax relief to support our students, parents and teachers,” said Senator Helming.
Currently in New York, clothing and footwear under $110 are exempt from the state 4% sales and use tax. Senator Helming’s bill would extend this tax exemption to school supplies for the one-week period preceding Labor Day to give families some additional relief.
Senator Helming’s petition is here.
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