Tax takes a holiday in Iowa

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Those who think the word “tax” is an obscenity found a state of purity the past two days in Iowa.

The state's annual sales tax holiday took place Friday and Saturday and gave shoppers a tax break on many shoes and clothing items.

Nebraska doesn't observe such a holiday, so a trip over the river held special appeal for Omahans and other Nebraskans. In four randomly selected lines of parking Saturday afternoon at Mall of the Bluffs, about 40 license plates were from Nebraska, 70 were from Iowa and six were from other states.

Three girls from Beaver Lake, Neb., waited at the mall entrance while their mother parked the car.

One of them, 9-year-old Faith Duffy, knew what she wanted from this holiday in Iowa. “High tops,” Faith said.

Then their mother, Denise Duffy, walked up. She said she would look for back-to-school clothing for four of her five children, plus the aforementioned high top athletic shoes for tomboy Faith.

“She's promised to wear a skirt if I get her some high tops,” Faith's mother said.

Denise Duffy said not only is the absence of sales tax appealing, but also some stores hold special sales because they know there will be plenty of customer traffic during the sales tax holiday.

“I try to stay away, because I know it's going to be hectic,” said Joyce Gorham of Sidney, Iowa. She nevertheless was there at Mall of the Bluffs with a bag containing new shoes for herself and son Jackson, 8.

Some Iowans aren't sold on the event in the least.

“I don't think it saves a lot because they have so many exemptions on certain things,” said Tina Hartman of Farragut, Iowa.

The state generally limits tax-free status to conventional clothing and shoes, and taxed clothing accessories and some specialty apparel.

The Iowa Department of Revenue's Web site revealed interesting distinctions: Bowling shirts weren't taxed but bowling shoes were. Scout uniforms weren't taxed but sports uniforms were. Garden gloves? Tax free. Welding gloves? Taxed.

Belt buckles were taxed, but belts with buckles were tax-free, yet belts without buckles were taxed.

A Mall of the Bluffs spokeswoman said earlier in the week that the sales tax holiday typically is second only to the day after Thanksgiving in sales generated.

Amy Wohlers, owner of the mall's Midwest Sports & Tees, said she doesn't want to deprive Omaha shops of business. But she said the sales tax holiday gives her and those in other mall stores a chance to show Nebraska shoppers their stuff.

Contact the writer:

444-1123, rick.ruggles@owh.com

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