Tax-Free Weekend!

It’s time to do that back-to-school shopping with Texas Sales Tax-Free Weekend. This year the annual sales tax holiday begins Friday, August 11th goes through midnight Sunday, August 13th.

According to the Texas State Comptroller, the sales tax exemption applies only to qualifying items bought during the sales tax holiday. But exactly what are qualifying items? Most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks sold for less than $100 qualify that are purchased from a Texas store or from an online or catalog seller doing business in Texas. And the buyer does not need to provide the seller with an exemption certificate. The exemption applies to each eligible item sold for less than $100, and there is no limit to the number of qualifying items you can buy.

According to the Comptroller, items that do not qualify for the tax exemption include:

• Items sold for $100 or more

• Clothing subscription boxes

• Specially-designed athletic activity or protective-use clothing or footwear

• For example, golf cleats and football pads are usually worn only when people play golf or football, so they do not qualify for the exemption.

• Tennis shoes, jogging suits and swimsuits; however, can be worn for other than athletic activity and qualify for the exemption.

• Clothing or footwear rentals, alterations and cleaning services

• Items used to make or repair clothing, such as fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks and zippers

• Jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches and other accessories

• Computers

• Software

• Textbooks

• Certain baggage items

For a complete list of qualifying items and more information, visit https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98490/#:~:text=11%20%2D%2013%2C%202023&text=The%20 Comptroller%20encourages%20all%20taxpayers,the%20annual%20Tax%2DFree%20weekend.

Gingerbread: Quality Early Education in Fort Bend County

With summer in full swing, it is not too early to turn our attention to a new school year. This year, the Gingerbread Family of Learning Centers celebrated their nine year anniversary of the Gingerbread Kids’ Academy in Richmond and the 42nd anniversary of The Gingerbread House Learning Center in Rosenberg.

The Gingerbread Kids’ Academy and Gingerbread House Learning Center have developed an environment where children can learn and grow. The programs are designed for children ages eight weeks to 12 years and offer a variety of activities throughout the year. In addition to their exceptional education programs, the Gingerbread Centers have implemented enhanced safety and health protocols that include daily temperature checks of students who enter the building and hourly cleaning schedules for high touch areas in the centers. During the pandemic, both locations stayed open to care for the children of essential workers in our community.

Research has shown that in order for a child to be successful in school and life, they must begin with a strong foundation in learning. Gingerbread has designed a curriculum that includes an emphasis on reading, writing, science, math, discovery and exploration, as well as social skills development. The infant and toddler programs focus on the development of both gross and fine motor skills along with basic language development. The three to five-year-old Pre-School and Pre-K programs focus on academics, peer relationships and preparation for entry into Kindergarten and elementary school. The Gingerbread after-school programs, located onsite at Bentley, Frost, Hutchison, Hubenak, Arredondo and Gray Elementary, as well as onsite at the Gingerbread Kids’ Academy and Gingerbread House, offer homework assistance, arts, crafts, games and sports.

A new school year means new beginnings. The Gingerbread Family invites you to come by for a visit. Both locations are now accepting enrollments for the 2023-2024 school year.

Contact Tim Kaminski at twkaminski@sbcglobal.net or 281-239-2110 for more information.