You Can Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping During Sales Tax Holidays. Is Your State Holding One?

CNET

21-07-2025

State sales tax holidays usually run for one weekend, though some states offer longer exemptions.
Tharon Green/CNET
If you haven't already started buying back-to-school essentials, shopping during a sales tax holiday can offer some extra savings.
These tax-free shopping events typically center on back-to-school items, offering discounts on clothing, school supplies, laptops and athletic gear.
This year, 17 states are participating in a tax-free event, with two happening this weekend, and many more kicking off on at the beginning of August. Here's when they're happening and which items will be tax-free.
2025 back-to-school state sales tax holidays State State sales tax Tax-free dates Alabama 4% July 18-20 Arkansas 6.50% Aug. 2-3 Connecticut 6.35% TBD Florida 6% Aug. 1-31 Iowa 6% Aug. 1-2 Maryland 6% Aug. 9-15 Massachusetts 6.25% Aug. 9-10 Mississippi 7% July 11-13 Missouri 4.23% Aug. 1-3 New Mexico 5.13%* July 25-27 Ohio 5.75% Aug. 1-14 Oklahoma 4.50% Aug. 1-3 South Carolina 6% Aug. 1-3 Tennessee 7% July 25-27 Texas 6.25% Aug. 8-10 Virginia 4% Aug. 1-3 West Virginia 6% Aug. 1-4
State sales tax holidays in 2025
Alabama
Dates: July 18-20, 2025
Tax-free items: Clothing: $100 or less per item.
Computers: $750 or less per item.
School supplies: $50 or less per item.
Books: $30 or less per item.
For the full list of items, visit the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Arkansas
Dates: Aug. 2-3, 2024
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item.
Clothing accessories and equipment: $50 or less per item.
School supplies, computers and electronics.
View the full list of items on the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration website.
Connecticut
Dates: TBD; rumored dates are Aug. 17-23, 2025, but are subject to change
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item, excluding athletic gear and uniforms.
View the full list of items on the Connecticut Department of Revenue website.
Florida
Dates: Aug. 1-31, 2025
Tax-free items Clothing, accessories and shoes: $100 or less per item.
School supplies: $50 or less per item.
Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles: $30 or less per item.
Personal computers and computer accessories: $1,500 or less per item.
View the full list of items on the Florida Department of Revenue website.
Iowa
Dates: Aug. 1-2, 2024
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item, excluding some accessories and sporting equipment.
View the full list of items on the Iowa Department of Revenue website.
Maryland
Dates: Aug. 11-17, 2024
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item.
Backpacks: Tax-free for the first $40.
View the full list of items on the Comptroller of Maryland website.
Massachusetts
Dates: Aug. 9-10, 2025
Tax-free items All retail items purchased for personal use for $2,500 or less.
Excluded items include meals, cars, boats, trucks, gasoline, cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol.
View the full list of items on the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website.
Mississippi
Dates: July 11-13, 2025
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item.
School supplies: $100 or less per item.
Accessories like jewelry, wallets and watches aren't exempt.
View the full list of items on the Mississippi Department of Revenue website.
Missouri
Dates: Aug. 1-3, 2025
Tax-free items Clothing: $100 or less per item.
School supplies: $50 or less per item.
Computer software: $350 or less per item.
Personal computers and peripherals: $1,500 or less per item.
Graphing calculators: $150 or less per item.
View the full list of items on the Missouri Department of Revenue website.
New Mexico
Dates: July. 25-27, 2025
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item.
Computers: $1,000 or less per item.
Computer peripherals like monitors or keyboards: $500 or less per item.
School supplies: $30 or less per item.
View the full list of items on the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue website.
Ohio
Dates: Aug. 1-14, 2025
Tax-free items All retail items purchased for $500 or less.
Excluded items include cars, boats, trucks, cigarettes, vapor products, marijuana, alcohol and select services.
View the full list of exceptions on the Ohio Department of Taxation website.
Oklahoma
Dates: Aug. 1-3, 2025
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item, excluding athletic gear and uniforms.
View the full list of items on the Oklahoma Tax Commission website.
South Carolina
Dates: Aug. 1-3, 2025
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes, including school or athletic uniforms.
School supplies, art supplies and musical instruments.
Certain bedding, pillows, blankets and bath supplies.
Computers, headphones and flash drives.
View the full list of items on the South Carolina Department of Revenue website.
Tennessee
Dates: July 25-27, 2025
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item, excluding handbags, jewelry and sports gear.
School and art supplies: $100 or less per item.
Laptops, tablets and computers: $1,500 or less per item.
View the full list of items on the Tennessee Department of Revenue website.
Texas
Dates: Aug. 8-10, 2025
Tax-free items Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item.
School supplies: $100 or less per item.
Backpacks: $100 or less.
View the full list of items on the Texas Comptroller website.
Virginia
Dates: Aug. 1-3, 2025
Tax-free items Qualifying clothing: $100 or less per item.
Certain school supplies: $20 or less per item.
View the full list of items on the Virginia State Tax Department website.
West Virginia
Dates: Aug. 1-4, 2025
Tax-free items Clothing: $125 or less per item.
Certain school supplies: $50 or less per item.
School books and instructional materials: $20 or less per item.
Laptop and tablets: $500 or less per item.
Sports equipment: $150 or less per item.
View the full list of items on the West Virginia State Tax Department website.
States that don't charge any sales tax ever
There are five US states that don't have a statewide sales tax. You can use the acronym NOMAD to remember them.
New Hampshire
Oregon
Montana
Alaska*
Delaware
*Alaska does levy local sales tax.
What is a sales tax holiday?
A sales tax holiday, also called a tax-free weekend or week, refers to a period of time when certain eligible items are exempt from sales tax. Some states hold tax-free holidays annually, and a few even host several tax-free events throughout the year. Most states that participate in tax holidays hold an event in the summer that aligns with back-to-school shopping. You'll commonly find sales taxes paused on purchases like laptops, clothing, school supplies and other accessories.
Can you save money during a tax holiday?
You can save money by avoiding sales tax during a tax holiday, particularly in states with higher state sales tax rates, like Tennessee (7%), Mississippi (7%) and Arkansas (6.5%), or in states with high limitations, like Massachusetts (purchases up to $2,500). If you spent $2,000 on a computer in Massachusetts during the sales tax exemption, you could save $125 in sales tax.
Cities and counties may or may not exempt local sales taxes during these state tax holidays. In states with potentially high local taxes, like Alabama, you'll want to check with your city or county about local sales tax exemptions.
Despite the potential savings during sales tax holidays, you'll want to make sure you stick to a budget to avoid overspending and do your research on back-to-school deals. During sales, some stores may offer lower prices on clothing, supplies and computers than you might receive by paying full price during a tax holiday.
State sales tax holiday FAQs
Do tax-free weekends include online sales?
Yes, online purchases for state residents made during their sales tax holiday will be tax free, even through large online retailers like Amazon. Just make sure you follow your state's guidelines for qualifying items. The time zone of the seller will usually define whether the sale is within the sales tax exemption period.
What happens if I buy a qualifying item that's over the dollar limit?
Rules for sales tax holidays will vary by state, but in most states the exemption is all or nothing. If your item costs more than the limit for the sales tax exemption, you'll pay tax on the entire amount (not just the amount over the limit).
One notable exception is In Maryland -- the first $40 spent on a backpack is tax free, regardless of its total price. If you were to spend $60 on a backpack, you'd be taxed only for $20. We recommend reviewing your state's full item list and rules to plan accordingly.
Is New Jersey holding a sales tax holiday this year?
New Jersey used to participate in tax-free weekends for back-to-school items. However, its sales tax holiday was repealed in 2024. It will not hold a tax holiday this year.
Do all cities in a state holding a tax holiday participate?
Most states require all cities and businesses therein to participate in tax-free holidays. Alabama, Florida and Missouri don't.