Shoppers mark your calendars. South Carolina’s sales tax holiday is around the corner.

From Aug. 3 through Aug. 5, shoppers won’t have to pay sales tax on a variety of items, including clothing, shoes, school supplies, computers and computer tablets.

The tax-free period starts at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 3 and runs through midnight Aug. 5. Consumers don’t pay the 6 percent state sales tax or any local taxes on a variety of items.

Not everything will be tax free. Jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, furniture and items placed on layaway are some of the items that still will be taxed that weekend. Portable devices used mainly for telephone calls, listening to or downloading music, watching videos or reading books also won’t be tax-free that weekend.

The state started the tax-free holiday in 2000, billed as a way to save on back-to-school purchases. It’s grown to be the third-busiest shopping period of the year, behind the weekends after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, according to the S.C. Department of Revenue.

Check out a full list of items that will and won’t be tax-free that weekend at www.sctax.org.

Contact DAWN BRYANT at 626-0296.