State's sales tax free

South Carolina's annual sales tax free weekend is slated for Friday, August 7, to Sunday, August 9.

Items such as back-to-school supplies, clothes and computers are exempt from the state's six percent sales tax, as well as other local taxes, and it counts for both online and in-store purchases, according to published reports.

The sales tax holiday started in 2000, and South Carolina officials have said that shoppers save between $2 million and $3 million during the weekend, according to those reports.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs is providing the following tips for those planning to shop:

• Be on guard as you shop online.

• Check mask ordinances, guidelines and store offerings before heading out.

• Many stores offer delivery or pick-up to simplify a shopping trip.

• Decide your payment method. If you shop online, a credit card will offer more consumer fraud protections than a debit card.

• Make a list and stick to it.

• Know the return policy.

• Review financial statements, as security breaches often happen during heavily trafficked shopping times.

To get information on consumer issues, one may call the Department of Consumer Affairs toll free at 1-800-922-1594.