Parents, busineses prepare for Ga. back-to-school tax holiday

ATLANTA - For the first time since 2009, Georgia is offering parents a tax holiday on back-to-school goods.

The state will temporarily suspend its collection of the sales tax on Aug. 10-11 for general school supplies, some clothing and computers and computer accessories.

The National Retail Federation tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that parents with school-age children are expected to spend an average of nearly $690 on back-to-school goods this year. That's up roughly $85 from last year's average.

Georgia started its tax holiday in 2002 under then-Gov. Roy Barnes. But state leaders ended the tax holiday as tax collections plunged during the last recession. The tax holiday was reinstated this year by Gov. Nathan Deal. Lawmakers said Georgia businesses were losing back-to-school sales to neighboring states with tax holidays.