3 days ago
When is your state's tax-free weekend? Back-to-school deal brings savings for millions of Americans
Back-to-school shoppers are getting more time to save this year.
Nearly 20 states are holding tax-free holidays on clothing, electronics and school supplies — some for longer than before.
Ohio has expanded its event to two full weeks — one of the longest in the country — while Florida's runs until August 31.
Florida's tax-free event is going until August 31, and Maryland and Connecticut will celebrate the holiday for nearly a week starting starting on the 16th and 17th.
Massachusetts will host a two day holiday starting today (Saturday).
Retail analyst Neil Saunders told Daily Mail that tariffs and inflation worries could push more shoppers to take advantage this year.
'That said, the price rises have not been as bad as anticipated, so this should be a reasonable back-to-school season,' he added.
Katherine Cullen of the National Retail Federation said the breaks help 'drive customers to stores' and boost sales.
As of now, six states are and will be hosting tax free holiday specials in August
'In June, people felt a little bit more worried about their finances,' she said.
'That shifted in July when they felt, 'No, I need to stock up and save because things might be much more expensive later.'
The NRF says the average family plans to spend about $858 this year, while college shoppers expect to shell out $1,326. Tax-free holidays could help them get there.
In Florida, school supplies priced at $50 or less qualify for zero tax.
Texas shoppers can pick up clothing, shoes, backpacks and supplies priced at $100 or less per item without tax, while Maryland offers the same — and waives taxes on backpacks priced at $40 or more.
Retailers have been under scrutiny for raising prices to cover tariff costs.
Walmart, long k nown for its $1 back-to-school supplies, has faced criticism for an avalanche of price hikes.
Employees had been exposing rising price tags for the last few months, angering shoppers in the process.
Target has also lifted prices, — leaving customers and even employees scared worried of what's to come.
It comes amid mass store closures as more Americans shop online. Thousands of stores that once housed school supplies are amongst the 15,000 experts expect to shutter by the end of the year.
But if states' tax-free holidays prove as successful as experts hope, they could give struggling retailers a last-minute boost — or even help them avoid closure altogether.
States holding tax holidays
