Graphic from Maryland comptroller’s office

The annual Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week will begin Sunday, Aug. 12 and run through Saturday, Aug. 18, according to an announcement from Comptroller Peter Franchot.

Certain back-to-school items will be exempt from the six percent state sales tax during that week. Shoppers can choose any single qualifying article of clothing or footwear priced $100 or less, regardless of how many items are purchased at the same time. The first $40 of any backpack or book bag purchase also will be tax-free.

For more information on qualifying items, visit marylandtaxes.gov, email [email protected] or call 1-800-MD-TAXES (638-2937).

In addition, the comptroller’s office is once again joining the Maryland Retailers Association to promote a social media contest during the tax-free week. Two winners will receive $2,500 and $1,000 scholarships, respectively, to any Maryland university, college or trade school.

To enter the contest Maryland college students need to:

Take a Maryland-themed photo or video while shopping

Write a caption, and

Post to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #shopmdtaxfree.

MRA, which is providing the scholarships, will select the two entries that best reflect the spirit of Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week.

Shoppers can refer to the official social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information.