Iowa Admin. Code r. 701—220.8(423) — Exempt sales of clothing and footwear during two-day period in August

Tax is not due on the sale or use of a qualifying article of clothing or footwear if the sales price of the article is less than $100 and the sale takes place during a period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August and ending at 12 midnight of the following Saturday. For example, in the year 2004, this period began at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 6, and ended at 12 midnight on Saturday, August 7. Eligible purchases of clothing and footwear are exempt from local option sales taxes as well as Iowa state sales tax. 220.8(1) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this rule, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. “Accessories” includes, but is not limited to, jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, wallets, watches, cufflinks, tie tacks and similar items carried on or about the human body, without regard to whether worn on the body in a manner characteristic of clothing. “Clothing or footwear” means an article of wearing apparel designed to be worn on or about the human body. For the purposes of this rule, the term does not include accessories or special clothing or footwear or articles of wearing apparel designed to be worn by animals. “Eligible property” means an item of a type, such as clothing, that qualifies for Iowa’s sales tax holiday. “Special clothing or footwear” is clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use and which is not normally worn except when used for the athletic activity or protective use for which it is designed. 220.8(2) Exempt sales. a. Required price. The exemption applies to each article of clothing or footwear selling for less than $100, regardless of how many items are sold on the same invoice to a customer. For example, if a customer purchases two shirts for $80 each, both items qualify for the exemption even though the customer’s total purchase price ($160) exceeds $99.99. The exemption does not apply to the first $99.99 of an article of clothing or footwear selling for more than $99.99. For example, if a customer purchases a pair of pants costing $110, sales tax is due on the entire $110. b. Order date and back orders. For the purpose of the sales tax holiday, eligible property qualifies for exemption if: the item is both delivered to and paid for by the customer during the exemption period; or the customer orders and pays for the item and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period. The seller accepts an order when the seller has taken action to fill the order for immediate shipment. Actions to fill an order include Revenue placement of an “in date” stamp on a mail order or assignment of an “order number” to a telephone order. An order is for immediate shipment when the customer does not request delayed shipment. An order is for immediate shipment notwithstanding that the shipment may be delayed because of a backlog of orders or because stock is currently unavailable to, or on back order by, the seller. 220.8(3) Taxable sales. This exemption does not apply to sales of the following goods or services: a. Any special clothing or footwear that is primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use and that is not normally worn except when used for the athletic activity or protective use for which it is designed. For example, golf cleats and football pads are primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use and are not normally worn except when used for those purposes; therefore, they do not qualify for the exemption. However, tennis shoes, jogging suits, and swimsuits are commonly worn for purposes other than athletic activity and qualify for the exemption. b. Accessories, including jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, and similar items carried on or about the human body, without regard to whether they are worn on the body in a manner characteristic of clothing. c. The rental of any clothing or footwear. For example, this exemption does not apply to rentals of formal wear, costumes, diapers, and bridal gowns, but would apply to sales of the above items. d. Taxable services performed on clothing or footwear, such as garment and shoe repair, dry cleaning or laundering, and alteration services. Sales tax is due on alterations to clothing, even though the alteration service may be performed, invoiced and paid for at the same time as the clothing is being purchased. If a customer purchases a pair of pants for $90 and pays $15 to have the pants cuffed, the $90 charge for the pants is exempt, but tax is due on the $15 alteration charge. e. Purchases of items used to make, alter, or repair clothing or footwear, including fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks, belt buckles, and zippers. 220.8(4) Special situations. a. Articles normally sold as a unit. Articles that are normally sold as a unit must continue to be sold in that manner if the exemption is to apply; they cannot be priced separately and sold as individual items in order to obtain the exemption. For example, if a pair of shoes sells for $150, the pair cannot be split in order to sell each shoe for $75 to qualify for the exemption. If a suit is normally priced at $225 and sold as a unit on a single price tag, the suit cannot be split into separate articles so that any of the components may be sold for less than $100 in order to qualify for the exemption. However, components that are normally priced as separate articles (e.g., slacks and sport coats, and suit coats and suit pants sold separately prior to the two-day period) may continue to be sold as separate articles and qualify for the exemption if the price of an article is less than $100. b. Sales of exempt clothing combined with gifts of taxable merchandise. When exempt clothing is sold in a set that also contains taxable merchandise as a free gift and no additional charge is made for the gift, the exempt clothing may qualify for this exemption. For example, a boxed set may contain a tie and a free tie tack. If the price of the set is the same as the price of the tie sold separately, the item being sold is the tie, which is exempt from tax if sold for less than $100 during the exemption period. c. Layaway sales. A layaway sale is a transaction in which merchandise is set aside for future delivery to a customer who makes a deposit, agrees to pay the balance of the purchase price over a period of time and, at the end of the payment period, receives the merchandise. A sale of eligible property under a layaway sale qualifies for exemption if: final payment on a layaway order is made by, and the property is given to, the purchaser during the exemption period; or the purchaser selects the property and the retailer accepts the order for the item during the exemption period, for immediate delivery upon full payment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period. d. Returns. For a 60-day period immediately after the sales tax holiday exemption period, when a customer returns an item that would qualify for the exemption, no credit for or refund of sales tax shall be given unless the customer provides a receipt or invoice that shows tax was paid, or the seller has sufficient documentation to show that tax was paid on the specific item. This 60-day period is set solely for the purpose of designating a time period during which the customer must provide documentation that shows that sales tax was paid on returned merchandise. The 60-day period is not intended to change a seller’s policy on the time period during which the seller will accept returns. Revenue[701]Ch 220, p.14 IAC 2/5/25 e. Different time zones. The time zone of the seller’s location determines the authorized time period for a sales tax holiday when the purchaser is located in one time zone and the seller is located in another. 220.8(5) Calculating taxable and exempt sales price—discounts, coupons, buying at a reduced price, and rebates. a. Discounts. A discount allowed by a retailer and taken on a taxable sale can be used to reduce the sales price of an item. If the discount reduces the sales price of an item to $99.99 or less, the item may qualify for the exemption. For example, a customer buys a $150 dress and a $100 blouse from a retailer offering a 10 percent discount. After applying the 10 percent discount, the final sales price of the dress is $135, and the blouse is $90. The dress is taxable (it is over $99.99), and the blouse is exempt (it is less than $99.99). b. Coupons. When a coupon is issued by a retailer and is actually used to reduce the sales price of any taxable item, the value of the coupon is excludable from the tax as a discount if the retailer is not reimbursed for the coupon amount by a third party. Therefore, a retailer’s coupon can be used to reduce the sales price of an item to $99.99 or less in order to qualify for the exemption. For example, if a customer purchases a pair of shoes priced at $110 with a coupon worth $20 off, the final sales price of the shoes is $90, and the shoes qualify for the exemption. A manufacturer’s coupon cannot be used to reduce the sales price of an item. c. Buy one, get one free or for a reduced price or “two for the price of one” sales. The total price of items advertised as “buy one, get one free,” or “buy one, get one for a reduced price,” or “two for the price of one” cannot be averaged in order for both items to qualify for the exemption. The following examples illustrate how such sales should be handled. Example 1: A retailer advertises pants as “buy one, get one free.” The first pair of pants is priced at $120; the second pair of pants is free. Tax is due on $120. Having advertised that the second pair is free, the store cannot ring up each pair of pants for $60 in order for the items to qualify for the exemption. However, if the retailer advertises and sells the pants for 50 percent off, selling each pair of $120 pants for $60, each pair of pants qualifies for the exemption. Example 2: A retailer advertises shoes as “buy one pair at the regular price, get a second pair for half price.” The first pair of shoes is sold for $100; the second pair is sold for $50 (half price). Tax is due on the $100 shoes, but not on the $50 shoes. Having advertised that the second pair is half price, the store cannot ring up each pair of shoes for $75 in order for the items to qualify for the exemption. However, if the retailer advertises the shoes for 25 percent off, thereby selling each pair of $100 shoes for $75, each pair of shoes qualifies for the exemption. Example 3: A retailer advertises shirts as “buy two for the price of one” for $140. Tax is due on $140. Each shirt cannot be rung up as costing $70. However, as described in Examples 1 and 2 above, the $140 cost of each shirt can be discounted to bring the price of each shirt within the exemption’s limitation. d. Rebates. Rebates occur after the sale and do not affect the sales price of an item purchased. For example, a customer purchases a sweater for $110 and receives a $12 rebate from the manufacturer. The retailer must collect tax on the $110 sales price of the sweater. Reference 701—subrule 203.3(2) for additional information regarding rebates. e. Shipping and handling charges. Shipping charges separately stated and separately contracted for are not part of the amount used to determine whether the sales price of an item qualifies it for exemption. Handling charges, however, are part of the amount used to make this determination if it is necessary to pay those charges in order to purchase an item. 220.8(6) Treatment of various transactions associated with sales. a. Rain checks. A rain check allows a customer to purchase an item at a certain price at a later time because the particular item was out of stock. Eligible items purchased during the exemption period using a rain check will qualify for the exemption regardless of when the rain check was issued. However, issuance of a rain check during the exemption period will not qualify an eligible item for the exemption if the item is actually purchased after the exemption period. b. Exchanges. Revenue (1) If a customer purchases an item of eligible clothing or footwear during the exemption period and later exchanges the item for a similar eligible item (different size, different color, etc.), no additional tax will be due even if the exchange is made after the exemption period. Example: A customer purchases a $35 shirt during the exemption period. After the exemption period ends, the customer exchanges the shirt for the same shirt in a different size. Tax is not due on the $35 price of the shirt. (2) If a customer purchases an item of eligible clothing or footwear during the exemption period and after the exemption period has ended returns the item and receives credit on the purchase of a different item, the appropriate sales tax will apply to the sale of the newly purchased item. Example: A customer purchases a $35 shirt during the exemption period. After the exemption period ends, the customer exchanges the shirt for a $35 jacket. Because the jacket was not purchased during the exemption period, tax is due on the $35 price of the jacket. (3) If a customer purchases an item of eligible clothing or footwear during the exemption period and later during the exemption period returns the item and purchases a similar but nonexempt item, the purchase of the second item is not exempt from tax. Example: During the exemption period, a customer purchases a $90 dress that qualifies for the exemption. Later, during the exemption period, the customer exchanges the $90 dress for a $150 dress. Tax is due on the $150 dress. The $90 credit from the returned item cannot be used to reduce the sales price of the $150 item to $60 for exemption purposes. (4) If a customer purchases an item of eligible clothing or footwear before the exemption period and during the exemption period returns the item and receives credit on the purchase of a different item of eligible clothing or footwear, no sales tax is due on the sale of the new item if it is purchased during the exemption period and otherwise meets the qualifications for exemption. Example: Before the exemption period, a customer purchases a $60 dress. Later, during the exemption period, the customer exchanges the $60 dress for a $95 dress. Tax is not due on the $95 dress because it was purchased during the exemption period and otherwise meets the qualifications for the exemption. 220.8(7) Nonexclusive list of exempt items. The following is a nonexclusive list of clothing or footwear, sales of which are exempt from tax during the two-day period in August: Aerobic clothing Antique clothing Aprons—household Athletic socks Baby bibs Baby clothes—generally Baseball caps Bathing suits Belts with buckles attached Blouses Boots—general purpose Bow ties Bowling shirts Bras Bridal apparel—sold not rented Camp clothing Caps—sports and others Chefs’ uniforms Children’s novelty costumes Choir robes Clerical garments Coats Corsets Costumes—Halloween, Santa Claus, etc., sold not rented Coveralls Cowboy boots Dresses Dress gloves Dress shoes Formal clothing—sold not rented Fur coats and stoles Galoshes Garters and garter belts Girdles Gloves—cloth, dress and leather Golf clothing—caps, dresses, shirts and skirts Graduation caps and gowns—sold not rented Gym suits and uniforms Hats Hiking boots Hooded (sweat) shirts Hosiery, including support hosiery Jackets Jeans Jerseys for other than athletic wear Jogging apparel Knitted caps or hats Lab coats Leather clothing Leg warmers Leotards and tights Lingerie Men’s formal wear—sold not rented Neckwear, e.g., scarves Nightgowns and nightshirts Overshoes Pajamas Raincoats and hats Religious clothing Riding pants Robes Rubber thongs—“flip-flops” Running shoes without cleats Safety shoes (adaptable for street wear) Sandals Shawls Shirts Shoe inserts and laces Stockings Suits Support hose Suspenders Sweatshirts Sweatsuits Swim trunks Tennis dresses Tennis skirts Ties Tights Trousers Tuxedos (except cufflinks)—sold not rented Underclothes Underpants Undershirts Uniforms—generally Veils Revenue[701]Ch 220, p.16 IAC 2/5/25 Ear muffs Employee uniforms other than those primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use Pants Pantyhose Prom dresses Ponchos Vests—general, for wear with suits Walking shoes Windbreakers Work clothes 220.8(8) Nonexclusive list of taxable items. The following is a nonexclusive list of items, sales of which are taxable during the two-day period in August: Accessories—generally Alterations of clothing Athletic supporters Backpacks Ballet shoes Barrettes Baseball cleats Baseball gloves Belt buckles sold without belts Belts for weight lifting Belts needing buckles but sold without them Bicycle shoes with cleats Billfolds Blankets Boutonnieres Bowling shoes—rented and sold Bracelets Buttons Chest protectors Clothing repair Coin purses Corsages Dry cleaning services Elbow pads Employee uniforms primarily designed for athletic activities or protective use Fabric sales Fishing boots (waders) Football pads Football pants Football shoes Goggles Golf gloves Ice skates In-line skates Insoles Jewelry Key cases and chains Knee pads Laundry services Life jackets and vests Luggage Monogramming services Pads—elbow, knee and shoulder, football and hockey Patterns Protective gloves and masks Purses Rental of clothing Rental of shoes or skates Repair of clothing Roller blades Safety clothing Safety glasses Safety shoes—not adaptable for street wear Shoes with cleats or spikes Shoulder pads for dresses and jackets Shower caps Skates—ice and roller Ski boots, masks, suits and vests Special protective clothing or footwear not adaptable for streetwear Sports helmets Sunglasses—except prescription Sweatbands—arm, wrist and head Swim fins, masks and goggles Tap dance shoes Thread Vests—bulletproof Weight lifting belts Wrist bands Yard goods Yarn Zippers