The Funky Zebras has some merchandise

Parents of schoolchildren aren’t the only ones taking advantage of the tax-free holiday Friday and Saturday in Iowa. Shoppers looking to save a few dollars on clothes and other eligible items will be heading to malls and stores in search of bargains.

Iowa drops its 6 percent sales tax (and local-option taxes, where they apply) for two days each year on clothing, shoes and other select items costing less than $100. That means consumers will save $6 on every $100 they spend. The Legislature approved the tax break in 2000 to help boost the economy and give consumers a break on school shopping.

Since then, a growing number of people are buying during the busy weekend. “Shoes and clothing that are less than $100 will be tax free. And it doesn’t matter if it’s back-to-school items or not,” said Victoria Daniels, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Revenue.

The tax-free holiday is held in August, as it is in most of the 16 other states that allow them, to target shoppers loading up on new clothing, shoes and accessories for children returning to classes. But those in households without students get the tax break, too.

“Who doesn’t like to save money?” Daniels said. Last year, retailers reported sales of $14.6 million during the two-day event. Shoppers saved an estimated $877,462 in sales tax during that time, according to revenue department reports.

Mahlon White’s extended family travels from a small farming community in central Nebraska to Des Moines to shop during the tax-free holiday for just that reason. The sales tax savings aren’t huge, but when combined with store sales, it’s enough of an incentive to bring White’s family to the local malls.

“It adds up,” said White, of Altoona. They shop for some back-to-school items but also look for other deals. “They don’t have an opportunity to shop like this” in Nebraska, he said.

Cheryl Hayes has advertised her women’s boutique, the Funky Zebras, as a destination during the tax-free weekend even though her Ankeny and Urbandale shops don’t sell what most parents would consider back-to-school items.

“You don’t have to have kids to get the tax break,” Hayes said. “I am just hoping that people will come in and see what we do have.”

The Funky Zebras has some merchandise that could be considered school wear for teenage girls, including jeans, tops and shoes that would be exempt from state sales tax Friday and Saturday. But mostly, Hayes is hoping other shoppers visit the store to stock up on clothes, jewelry and purses.

Daryl Dell’Anno, manager of the J.C. Penney store at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines, said back-to-school shopping started a couple of weeks ago. He expects the store to be busy Friday and Saturday in part because of the tax break and also because Penney’s is offering free haircuts for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

“We’ll see people shopping for other things, but it will be mostly for kids like the jeans, casual tops and athletic shoes,” he said.