What you can buy tax-free

This year's sales tax holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3.

Here's the complete list of items exempted from state tax during that time. You can also find the full list online at retail reporter Sue Stock's blog, takingstock.newsobserver.com.

CLOTHING $100 OR LESS PER ITEM

* Aprons, household and shop

* Athletic supporters

* Baby receiving blankets

* Bandannas

* Bathing suits and caps; beach capes and coats

* Belts and suspenders

* Boots; overshoes

* Coats, jackets, capes, and wraps

* Costumes (does not include costume masks sold separately)

* Diapers (children and adults, including disposables)

* Earmuffs; gloves and mittens for general use; hats and caps; hosiery; scarves

* Formal wear (does not include rentals)

* Garters and garter belts; girdles; leotards and tights; panty hose; socks; stockings and footlets; underwear

* Insoles for shoes

* Jogging suits

* Lab coats

* Neckties

* Rainwear

* Rubber pants

* Sandals; shoes and shoelaces; slippers; sneakers; steel-toed shoes

* Uniforms (athletic and nonathletic uniforms when purchased for nonbusiness use)

* Wedding apparel (does not include rentals)

SPORT OR RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT $50 OR LESS PER ITEM

* Ballet and tap shoes

* Cleated or spiked athletic shoes

* Gloves (baseball, bowling, boxing, hockey, golf and other sports)

* Goggles

* Hand and elbow guards

* Helmets (bicycle, skating, baseball and other sports)

* Life preservers and vests

* Mouth guards

* Roller and ice skates

* Shin guards

* Shoulder pads

* Ski boots

* Waders, wet suits and fins

COMPUTERS $3,500 OR LESS

A computer includes a central processing unit, monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers.

The separate sale of a monitor, keyboard, mouse or speakers is subject to tax when the item is not sold in conjunction with a central processing unit.

COMPUTER SUPPLIES $250 OR LESS PER ITEM

* Computer storage media, including diskettes and compact discs

* Hand-held electronic schedulers, except devices that are cellular phones

* Personal digital assistants, except devices that are cellular phones (no iPhones)

* Computer printers

* Printer supplies for computers, including printer paper and printer ink

SCHOOL SUPPLIES $100 OR LESS PER ITEM

* Binders

* Blackboard chalk

* Book bags

* Calculators

* Cellophane tape

* Clay and glazes

* Compasses

* Composition books

* Crayons

* Erasers

* Folders (expandable, pocket, plastic and manila)

* Glue, paste and paste sticks

* Highlighters

* Index card boxes

* Index cards

* Legal pads

* Lunch boxes

* Markers

* Notebooks

* Paintbrushes for artwork

* Paints (acrylic, tempera and oil)

* Paper (loose-leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board and construction paper)

* Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes

* Pencil sharpeners

* Pencils

* Pens

* Protractors

* Rulers

* Scissors

* Sketch and drawing pads

* Watercolors

* Writing tablets

SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS $300 OR LESS PER ITEM

(Before the 2008 holiday, these items were categorized as "school supplies" and were exempt during the holiday period if the sales price of the item was $100 or less per item.)

* Reference books

* Reference maps and globes

* Textbooks

* Workbooks