Missouri's state law-mandated sales tax holiday is back starting Friday, August 7, and running through the next Sunday. During this time there will be no state sales tax on certain back-to-school purchases. You may even find some purchases for your family, not necessarily school-related might be tax-free.

Essentially there are three types of items that will be free of state taxes during the holiday. These are clothing, personal computers, and school supplies.

Clothing

Clothes under $100 dollars that someone would wear to school or class are tax-free. Disposable diapers for infants and adults qualify as do shoes. Accessories don't count. The state considers "watches, watchbands, jewelry, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, or belt buckles" accessories. So you'll still have to pay tax on them.

Personal Computers

If you're looking for a new computer, desktop, or laptop, that costs under $1,500 dollars qualifies. Devices intended to be used with computers also count. Drives, memory, modem, motherboard, mouse, computer speakers, microphone, webcam, scanner, printer, and video card that cost under $1,500 count. You can also buy computer software with a taxable value of under $350 dollars.

Back to School Supplies

All the usual back-to-school supplies including textbooks, notebooks, writing implements, crayons, art supplies, calculators, rulers, book bags, chalk, maps, and globes count. (Not to exceed $50 per purchase.) Things that don't count include mobile or traditional phones, watches, radios, CD players, headphones, sporting goods, copiers, office equipment, and furniture.

Missouri's Back to School Sales Tax holiday does a pretty good job of giving students and their parents buying back-to-school items a break, without just making it a tax-free weekend for all.

That said, I'm not sure a general tax-free weekend wouldn't be better. It might be a nice break for Missouri residents. It might be a nice way to let all of us engage in upgrading or changing something in our home. Or purchasing something to better our life or our family's life. I'm not saying a big-screen TV is life-changing. However, camping equipment for the family camp out might. Sports equipment for you or your kids' might.

Then again, Black Friday will be here before you know it. And while it's not a tax-free weekend, it sure is a way to get some of those things that don't qualify for the tax-free weekend for a great price.