New Jersey Tax Holiday Repealed for the 2024-25 School Year

Back-to-school time has arrived, and we’re all familiar with the high price of school supplies and school clothes and uniforms, shoes, and athletic equipment. The New Jersey tax holiday has been very helpful to parents who are stretched financially but need to check off all of the items that teachers want their students to have when the school year begins.

When my kids started school and even now with two in college, the cost of going back to school has always been significant. The New Jersey tax holiday was in effect for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years and was very helpful in cutting costs and enabling families to stay within their budget more easily.

According to NJ.gov, the New Jersey tax holiday “established an annual Sales Tax Holiday for certain retail sales of computers, school supplies, and sport or recreational equipment when sold to an individual purchaser for non-business use.”

Now, that relief from the New Jersey tax holiday and the expensive back-to-school costs has been eliminated, and “sellers should charge sales tax on all taxable items.”

Some of the items that were included in past years were computers with a price tag of less than three thousand bucks, computer supplies that cost less than one thousand dollars, school art supplies, school instructional materials such as books, “Sports or recreational equipment sold to individual purchasers for non-business use,” and just about any item needed for school.

I remember going on a scavenger hunt of sorts to complete the school supply list that my kids’ teacher would give us. It would have about thirty items and be very specific. For example, they would need “1 pack of 8 number 2 pencils sharpened, pencil box, pencil sharpener, box of 64 Crayola crayons, 4 glue sticks, blunt-tipped scissors, and the list continued.

With the New Jersey tax holiday and the New Jersey sales tax at 6.625%, families could save close to one hundred dollars or more if higher ticket items like computers are needed. And that’s for only one child.

Now that the New Jersey tax holiday (N.J.S.A. 54:32B-8.21a) is gone, parents and families need to absorb these costs.

New Jersey Lawmakers sponsored the bill to repeal the New Jersey tax holiday and it was signed into law by the Governor. It saves the state about thirty-five million dollars, passing the cost back onto New Jersey parents and families this year.

The back-to-school shopping season is upon us, and teachers everywhere are digging into their own pockets to stock up on classroom essentials. According to the National Education Association, educators shell out an average of $500 to $750 annually on supplies their students need.

Many teachers say their districts don’t always provide everything needed to keep students engaged, comfortable, and ready to learn. A survey by the U.S. Department of Education reveals that 94 percent of teachers are spending their own money on classroom necessities. It’s not just teachers either. Support staff like bus drivers, front office personnel, classroom aides, and custodians are also using their own wages to buy supplies.

These purchases cover everything from paper, pencils, markers, and glue, to online learning program subscriptions, lab equipment, snacks for hungry kids, tissues, cleaning supplies, and even hand soap for the bathrooms.

Last year, CNN reported that most school supplies have jumped in price, sending the cost of writing tools and supplies such as crayons, pens, and pencils up nearly 19% year-over-year.

Jamesha Gilliam, a public high school English teacher in Marion County, Florida, keeps a locker in her class filled with pens, pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, and other stationery materials.

“I use my own money to keep it filled up during the year,” said Gilliam. But she was hit with sticker shock when she went to buy a bulk supply of unsharpened pencils. “I would get a 50-pack box for $10, and this year it’s closer to $25,” she shared with the outlet.

Parents have been noticing this as well with some sharing how the cost of back-to-school supplies has gotten out of hand.

TikTok user @cramer.crew, known as Christy, recently shared her annual back-to-school haul for two kids. Her list included the usual suspects like dry-erase markers, folders, notebooks, glue sticks, tissues, and paper towels. Most items were store brands, particularly Target's, which another local mom found to be the cheapest. Christy skipped big-ticket items like electronics and didn’t include backpacks or lunchboxes, which she bought separately. Despite reusing some items like her older child’s backpack and calculator, her total still came to $170.23.

“Absolutely insane. Insane!” she exclaimed.

Another parent, @addi_archers_mommy, known as Harlee, shared her frustration: “I just spent about $100 on my first grader’s school supplies,” she said. “And they wouldn’t even let me buy anything fun.”

She showed her haul, noting the specific name brands required. Although Harlee didn’t always stick to those brands, a teacher friend explained that these requests often come from experience, as investing in quality can save money long-term.

No one seems to blame teachers for the costs. In fact, Christy, in the comments of her video, expressed appreciation for teachers, telling one commenter, “Crazy how teachers are expected to provide it all.”

As the back-to-school season kicks off, some retailers are stepping up to ease the financial burden on teachers by offering discounts and special deals on classroom supplies. They’re rolling out special deals and discounts to help educators fill their classrooms without emptying their wallets. Ready to see which stores are making it easier for teachers to snag those must-have supplies? Take a look at the list below and find out who’s offering a helping hand this school year.

New members can get a $20 or $40 Costco Shop Card, an exclusive offer for teachers. Teachers also receive a 10% discount at most Dollar Tree locations by showing a valid school ID. At Michael’s, teachers save 15% on every purchase. Office Depot offers a 10% discount on in-store purchases for teachers. Staples provides a 20% discount on in-store purchases with an app coupon and teacher ID. Additionally, teachers can enjoy 20% off storewide at Target through Target Circle, available until Saturday, August 24.

Both teachers and students can access Adobe Pro, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and InDesign, for just $19.99 per month during the first year, and $34.99 per month thereafter. Additionally, teachers and their families can enjoy a 25% discount on AT&T wireless plans, starting at $27 per month for four lines. Instructors can save up to $25 per month on Verizon's Unlimited wireless plans. Canva offers free access to creating lesson plans, posters, and infographics through this link. Teachers get six months of Babbel lessons for $36, a 60 percent discount. Teachers also receive discounts on Google Workspace for Education, which includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, and more, as well as discounts on Chromebooks. Office 365 Education and Microsoft Teams are available for free, along with a 10% discount on Windows devices. The Apple Store for Education offers discounted items for K-12 teachers, including select Macbooks and iPad.

Books will always be essential for both students and teachers, and there are discounts available for educators looking to expand their collections. Teachers can enjoy up to 25% off on books, toys, and games by joining Barnes & Noble Educators. The Scholastic Teacher Store offers great items for 25% off and up to 50% off with other sales and deals. Scholastic also hosts book fairs and warehouse sales where teachers can purchase items at marked-down prices. Additionally, local bookstores often offer similar discounts for teachers, so it's worth checking out nearby options to find the best deals.