Beginning at 12:01 am on Friday, August 5, there will be no sales tax on many items through Sunday night. Items such as clothing, footwear, and school supplies of $100 or less per item; school instructional materials of $300 or less per item; sports and recreation equipment of $50 or less per item, computers of $3,500 or less per item; and computer supplies of $250 or less per item will be exempt.

Clothing accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, protective equipment, wallets, furniture, items used in a trade or business, and rentals are not covered by the exemption and will be subject to the applicable tax.

Here is more info from the NC Dept of Revenue:

• List of Items Exempt During the Sales Tax Holiday (.pdf)
• List of Frequently Asked Questions
• Sales and Use Tax Technical Bulletin  Section 34-24 – August Sales Tax Holiday (.pdf)