Government announces two GST-free shopping days for back-to-school season

Belizean families preparing for the new school year will have two opportunities to save on school supplies, as the Belize Tax Service brings back its Back-to-School GST-Free Days. The tax-free shopping days are scheduled for Saturday, August 15, and Saturday, August 29. On those dates, eligible school supplies will be exempt from the General Sales Tax, allowing parents and guardians to spend less on qualifying items as they prepare their children for the start of the new school year. The initiative is intended to provide some financial assistance during the back-to-school season, a time when many families take on additional expenses while purchasing the items their children need for the classroom. Today, Love News took to the streets to hear from Belizeans on whether they believe the GST-Free Days will make a difference for families preparing for the new school year.

The Belize Tax Service has not yet released the complete list of products that will qualify for the exemption. Families will therefore need to review the official guidelines once they are published, since not every item sold during the period may be GST-free. Businesses participating in the initiative will also be expected to apply the exemption correctly to qualifying purchases.  Consumers are encouraged to confirm which items are eligible before completing their purchases.