Tax-free computer questions answered

ASHEVILLE — North Carolina's annual tax-free weekend, which begins today and runs through Sunday, comes as a welcome event for parents who need to buy a new computer for their children — and anyone else who needs to purchase a desktop, laptop or printer.

Consumers will save at least 6.75 percent in sales tax during the holiday, amounting to $67.50 on a $1,000 computer. Many will save much more by scoping out the weekend's many sales.

“A lot of people have significantly less discretionary income this year, and if they have a child going to college and they need a computer, they may buy it during the holiday,” said Thomas Beam, a spokesman with the N.C. Department of Revenue.

But computers are not just for college students. Monty Fuchs, director of technology for Buncombe County Schools, said having a computer is becoming a necessity for public school students.

“If there is anything out there that is worthy to get this weekend when taxes are free, a computer would be on the top of my list,” he said. “Maybe even two.”

Local retailers are gearing up for the weekend. Best Buy on Tunnel Road has a plan in place and extra salespeople to deal with the increased number of computer shoppers during the tax-free weekend, said Mason Sprinkle, the store's computer supervisor.

“We see tons of people,” he said. “It's different from any other day here.”

Smart consumer

Here's what to know about buying a computer for the student in your life or for yourself:

• Computers with a sales price of $3,500 or less are covered under the rules of the tax-free weekend. For purposes of the exemption during the sales tax holiday, a computer may include a central processing unit, monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers, if sold together. All those accessories are subject to taxation if bought separately..

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Printers, along with computer storage media, hand-held electronic schedulers, personal digital assistants and printer supplies priced at $250 or less are covered, even if you don't buy a computer to go with them. Any device that's also a mobile telephone will be taxed, however.

Mike Honeycutt, a computer consultant at UNC Asheville, recommends college students also check with their school to see if it offers any discounts on certain computers. He said consumers should expect to spend around $1,000 for a laptop, printer and software, or about $700 for a desktop computer, printer and software.

• For students of all ages, experts recommend buying a laptop over a desktop computer. Although desktops are generally less expensive, laptops have come down in price and are now just as powerful as their immobile counterparts, they said.

“If you are going to be in the dorms, it is pretty much laptop, laptop, laptop,” Honeycutt said. “I see very few students carrying them to class, but there is such limited space in dorm rooms, laptops have pretty much become a necessity.”

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