Stores prepared for tax-free weekend

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Back to school tax-free weekend starts Friday and many people across the Valley are expected to take advantage of the discounts over the weekend.

The annual tax holiday allows Texans to save money on clothing and supplies for the upcoming school year. Many people across the Valley are expected to take advantage of the discounts over the weekend.

The tax-free program applies to retail stores and online purchases made at companies that do business in Texas.

Academy Sports and Outdoors in Harlingen was not open at this time last year, but operations Manager Jordan Gray said the store was expecting a big turnout for its first tax-free weekend event.

“We have backpacks, shoes, socks. Anything that you can get ready for back to school or back to sport. We also offer a great selection in team sports of football, baseball, soccer, whatever the customer needs it can be a one-stop shop," Gray said.

The store is offering extended hours during the weekend to give people more time to fit their back-to-school shopping into their schedules.

The Secretary of State's office is reminding customers there are restrictions to the tax-free program. At Academy, sports equipment like tennis shoes, jogging suits and swimsuits qualify for the tax break.

Retailers at the Rio Grande Valley Outlets were already seeing an increase in traffic Friday afternoon. They are advising shoppers to get there early to find the best parking.

“Everybody’s excited to go back to school," Steve Madden Sales Associate Clarissa Aguire said. "Everybody’s excited to shop, and just get the things that they want most for school.”

To be eligible for tax-free status, individual items have to cost one hundred dollars or less.

Stephanie Canales, Business Development and Marketing Director at the outlets in Mercedes said this is a good opportunity for families to save money before the start of school.

“It’s so important especially if you have large families or anything like that this is the time to take advantage and do your back to school," Canales said. She suggested shoppers could also take advantage of the holiday weekend for non-school-related items. "You can even do your holiday shopping a little bit earlier.”

Customers said they were seeing good deals on essentials like clothing and backpacks.

Orlando David Garza, shopping with his family at the outlets, said he found better prices this year. He said that in years past, he's had to spend more on his daughters.

Tax-free weekend runs through midnight on Sunday. Experts say it is a good idea for shoppers to make a list of what they need and have a good idea about how much they can afford to spend.