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Since 2000, the state of South Carolina has offered a way to save money on back-to-school items, and more, the first weekend in August.

The tax-free weekend begins at 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August and lasts until midnight on Sunday. It takes the state and local sales taxes away from a list of exempt items.

It applies to any exempt item for use by any age, from infant to senior citizens, for any dollar amounts. Merchants are not allowed to withdraw from the tax-free weekend.

The idea behind the sales tax holiday is to help parents with the costs of getting their children ready to go back to school and also to bolster the retail economy.

But many shoppers are still puzzled about some items available on the list and some that are still taxed.

For example, if you buy a computer that comes complete with everything you need, then it鈥檚 exempt. But individual parts such as keyboards and monitors when bought separately are taxed.

Most clothing items are exempt as long as you buy them. Anything you rent is taxable.

Then there are some items that don鈥檛 seem to fit the 鈥渂ack-to-school鈥� criteria that are free from taxes this weekend.

For example, you can buy wedding gowns, hunting vests, in-line skates, ski suits and boots, corsets and box spring covers without worrying about any sales tax. The box springs, however, are taxable.

Many students will claim that a new phone is essential for back to school but phones are not exempt from sales tax.