Today, Mississippi’s fifth annual sales tax holiday started at midnight.

Parents and shoppers alike will want to take advantage of this opportunity to buy clothing, coats and shoes without the additional 7 percent state sales tax typically associated with those purchases.

While a 7 percent discount may not seem like a large savings, when you purchase numerous items at once, those dollars and cents add up.

In order for the clothing to be eligible, each individual item cannot cost more than $100, but total purchases can equal more than that.

At times, retailers use this holiday as a way to tack on even more savings by holding sales.

No matter if additional discounts are added through sales or not, these events are always a busy time for merchants.

With school starting soon, many parents are preparing to send their children to school in their best by buying new school clothes and supplies. This weekend is the best time to stock up on those school uniforms until midnight on Saturday when the tax break ends.

Parents can also take advantage and purchase some work, church or casual clothing for themselves. It’s a win-win event that you should not pass up.

But keep in mind that there are some additional items not included in this tax holiday. Purchases of school supplies, backpacks and computers do not apply. Other items that don’t qualify include jewelry, handbags, wallets and watches.

These discounts only apply to items purchased in Mississippi, so keep those purchases close to home.

There are several retailers in Picayune that would love to have your business.

The Picayune Item commends the state of Mississippi for holding a sales tax holiday so close to the beginning of the coming school year, and the cities of Picayune and Poplarville for participating. It provides a way for parents to purchase clothing for their children and themselves at a discount, while also providing a boost to the local economy.