North Cook News

State Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro (R–Bloomingdale) has proposed a weeklong sales tax holiday for school supplies.

Sanalitro proposed to establish this as a permanent sales tax holiday effective immediately.

"As a mother to two adult children, I understand the challenges families face when it comes to purchasing school supplies for their children, and I believe providing a sales tax holiday on these essential items is an important step in supporting Illinois families,” Sanalitro in a Facebook post. "This is a program that has been temporarily set up in previous years, but my bill makes it permanent and effective immediately, allowing parents of school-aged children to see a lasting impact on their household budgets.”

Sanalitro, elected in November to represent the 48th House District, backs this bill because it is a significant step in providing aid to families and grant relief "during a time when many are struggling to make ends meet due to increased costs of living," according to her press release.

“I believe supporting families is a crucial part of our responsibility as elected officials, and this bill is just one way we can make a measurable difference in the lives of our constituents,” Sanalitro, also a mother and an executive, added. “I urge my fellow members of the General Assembly to support this bill, and to help ensure Illinois families have access to the resources they need to raise smart, healthy, and successful children.” 

HB3201 would create a sales tax holiday “during the first 7 days of August of each calendar year," amending the Use Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and the State Finance Act. The sales tax holiday would apply to school uniforms and a broad scope of school supplies, such as notebooks, textbooks, pens, pencils, and other writing materials. 

Altogether 14 states provide some sort of sales tax holiday on school items including Iowa which exempts clothes up to $100 from sales tax and Missouri, which provides a tax break for clothing, computers, and school supplies on a weekend in early August each year, Today reported.