This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

If you live in or near Wisconsin and have kids going back to school (or simply want to update your fall wardrobes) you are going to want to get your shopping done between August 1st – 5th. 

During that time frame sales of certain items are exempt from Wisconsin sales and use taxes! This may not seem like a huge deal, but when you have to buy clothes and school supplies for two or more kids, it starts to add up!

Back To School Shopping – Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets

My husband and I ventured over to the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets recently to check out their selection of stores in preparation for back to school shopping. We were so pleasantly surprised at the pricing we found at each outlet store that I’m surprised I didn’t come home with everything there was to buy!

One place we made sure to stop was the Gymboree outlet to see what we could find for back to school outfits for our kids. They not only have an amazing selection, but most items were 40% off the regular retail price and anything on clearance was an additional 30% off lowest marked price. Talk about savings!

On top of those savings, there will be no sales and use tax during the Wisconsin Sales Tax Holiday which means you can save even more (normally an additional 5% of your total purchase)!

Note: non-taxable clothing sales must be $75 or less per item. 

Just look at this cute little outfit we got for my youngest daughter who will be starting her first year of preschool this year!

We also checked out the Old Navy outlet (loads of deals there!), Justice, the Columbia Factory Store, and more!

My Favorite Stores

My husband and I don’t get too much time alone together without our four kids, but we left them with their grandparents that day so we could have a fun shopping day to ourselves.

Back to school shopping is fun, but I made sure to also take a little time for myself and stopped at a couple of stores I love!

Francesca’s has an amazing selection of clothing, jewelry, handbags, hats, and unique gifts.

I was having a ball trying on everything in the store. I especially loved this jumpsuit and I’m sure I’ll be the belle of the carpool lane wearing this! What do you think?! 🙂

Another store I had to stop in to was the Levi’s outlet store.

Several selections were 30-50% off the normal retail price and I just love how my Levi’s jeans fit. At outlet prices, I couldn’t pass up another pair. 

p.s. My husband’s name is Levi so he always thinks it’s fun to get the kids ‘branded’ clothes. In other words, the Levi’s brand clothing is always on our list. 🙂

Wisconsin Sales Tax Holiday Info

During Wednesday, August 1 – Sunday, August 5, 2018, sales of certain items are exempt from Wisconsin sales and use tax.

Items that are not taxable during the sales tax holiday (download this PDF for a thorough list of all exempt purchases):

  • Clothing – the sale price of each item must be $75 or less
  • Computer purchased by a consumer for their personal use – sales price of each computer must be $750 or less
  • School computer supplies purchased by the consumer for their personal use – sales price of each item must be $250 or less
  • School supplies – the sales price of each item must be $75 or less

Items that are still taxable during the sales tax holiday (download this PDF for a thorough list of all taxable purchases):

  • Clothing accessories or equipment
  • Protective equipment
  • School art supplies
  • School instructional materials
  • Sport or recreational equipment

For a complete listing of exempt and non-exempt items and/or restrictions, visit the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s website. 

Wisconsin Sales Tax ‘Calculator’

The Wisconsin state sales tax rate is currently 5%. Use the following calculation in order to calculate the savings on tax-exempt purchases made during the sales tax holiday:

ITEM PRICE x .05 = AMOUNT SAVED

For example, you purchase a pair of pants for $40.00.

$40.00 x .05 = $2.00
Typically, the final total of your pants purchase including tax would be $42.00. However, during sales tax holiday, you pay the flat rate of $40.00 and save $2.00.

About Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets

Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets is a Simon center, located 60 miles north of Chicago and 38 miles south of Milwaukee, off Interstate 94 at Highway 165.

The 90+ store center offers everyday savings upwards of 65 percent and is home to designer and brand-name retailers including Adidas, Banana Republic Factory Store, Calvin Klein, Converse, Levi’s Outlet, True Religion Outlet, Timberland Factory Store, Pandora Outlet, Sunglass Hut, UGG, Under Armour and White House Black Market.