Tax-free weekend begins in the Burg at 12:01am on Friday, August 1st, and ends at midnight on Sunday, August 3rd. There have been some changes in the regulations retailers are abiding by this weekend so we wanted to keep in the know so you can figure out how to best focus your back to school shopping efforts.

The price limit per each item to be tax exempt has been raised to $100. To clarify, if you were to buy a bundle of items, each item worth $100 or less, but the sum total of the items is greater than $100, your purchase is still tax exempt.

The specifics of exempt and non-exempt items are hyper-specific. Clothing such as fitness wear, backpacks, sweater, swimsuits, vintage clothing, scrubs, jeans and even fanny packs are exempt. Other exemptions include school supplies such as construction, notebook and poster paper are included in the exemptions. However, computer and printer paper are not included. (We're scratching our heads, too.)

Computers are exempt from tax, but only for the initial $750 of the cost. Different from years past where the amount had to be exactly $750 or less, Florida will now allow certain exemptions on higher priced pieces of tech. Cameras, cell phones, sports equipment will also still be taxed. (No new iPhone for you…maybe!) Professional wear such as suits, ties and tuxedos will be exempt. 

Be cautious when acquiring swag and supplies this weekend. Due to the hype and vibe of the event consumers are often fooled by faux mark downs and discounts. All we can suggest is to shop prepared. Make a list of the necessities required for the Fall and configure what items purchased without state sales tax would give you the largest savings. 

In the spirit of the holiday, certain Burg haunts are offering deals on top of deals and these are no joke. Freshly Squeezed is offering an additional 15% off all purchases this weekend. Freshly Squeezed is located at 900 1st Ave N right next to Engine No. 9 Burgers. MISRED Outfitters at 615 Central Ave will be duty free Friday and Saturday only. With tons of new accessories in stock, you might want to hit the fashion gurus early. 

This holiday weekend, we encourage you to fight the itch to visit the chains and #shoplocal first. From Local Longboards and Daddy Kool to ARTpool and Haslam's or The Shop, St. Pete has the best spots to get dressed and prepped for whatever the new season has in store for you.

For a more comprehensive list of what is and is not exempt check out Florida Department Of Revenue's tax holiday guide. 

What are you most excited to purchase this weekend and where? Let us know in a comment!