Save Big on Back-to-School Shopping With Sales Tax Holidays This Weekend
See if your state has a sales tax exemption for clothing, school supplies, computers and more.
State stales tax holidays usually run for one weekend, though some states offer longer exemptions.
Back-to-school shopping isn't cheap. According to a new CNET back-to-school shopping survey, the average family expects to pay about $890 to prepare for the upcoming school year, and nearly half will need to use financing -- credit cards or buy now pay later apps -- to cover the cost.
To provide a little relief to financially stressed shoppers, many US states hold yearly "sales tax holidays," when certain back-to-school shopping items are exempt from state sales tax. Most of these sales tax holidays run for one weekend near the end of summer vacation.
Read more: Back-to-School Shopping on a Budget: Where to Buy Crayons, Highlighters and More
There are 17 states holding sales tax holidays this summer -- each state has its own rules for back-to-school sales tax exemptions, so be sure to read the specifics for your state. In addition, five states offer tax-free shopping all year round. Read on to find out if your state is participating this year and to learn which items will be tax free.
For more ways to save money, learn how to get the best TV for the least money and how to save money when buying gas.
States holding back-to-school sales tax holidays in 2023
| State | State sales tax | Tax-free dates |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4% | July 21-23 |
| Arkansas | 6.50% | Aug. 5-6 |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | Aug. 20-26 |
| Florida | 6% | July 24 - Aug. 6 |
| Iowa | 6% | Aug. 4-5 |
| Maryland | 6% | Aug. 13-19 |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | Aug. 12-13 |
| Mississippi | 7% | July 28-29 |
| Missouri | 4.23% | Aug. 4-6 |
| New Jersey | 6.63% | Aug. 26 - Sept. 4 |
| New Mexico | 5% | Aug. 4-6 |
| Ohio | 5.75% | Aug. 4-6 |
| Oklahoma | 4.50% | Aug. 4-6 |
| South Carolina | 6% | Aug. 4-6 |
| Tennessee | 7% | July 28-30 |
| Texas | 6.25% | Aug. 11-13 |
| West Virginia | 6% | Aug. 4-7 |
State sales tax holidays in August
The first weekend in August is a popular time for sales tax holidays, with nine states offering exemptions during that time. Fourteen states total host sales tax holidays that run in August.
Florida
Dates: July 24 - Aug. 6, 2023
Tax-free items
- Clothing, accessories and shoes less than $100.
- School supplies less than $50 per item.
- Learning aids less than $30 per item.
- Personal computers and computer accessories under $1,500.
- View the full list of items on the Florida Department of Revenue website.
Iowa
Dates: Aug. 4-5, 2023
Tax-free items
- Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item, excluding accessories and sporting equipment.
- View the full list of items on the Iowa Department of Revenue website.
Missouri
Dates: Aug. 4-6, 2023
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: Aug. 4-6, 2023
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. 4-6, 2023
Tax-free items
- Clothing: $75 or less per item.
- School supplies and books: $20 or less per item.
- View the full list of items on the Ohio Department of Taxation website.
Oklahoma
Dates: Aug. 4-6, 2023
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. 4-6, 2023
Tax-free items
- Clothing and shoes, including school or athletic uniforms.
- School supplies, art supplies and musical instruments.
- Bedding, pillows and blankets.
- Computers, headphones and flash drives.
- View the full list of items on the South Carolina Department of Revenue website.
West Virginia
Dates: Aug. 4-7, 2023
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.
Arkansas
Dates: Aug. 5-6, 2023
Tax-free items
- Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item.
- School accessories: $50 or less per item.
- Computers and selected school supplies.
- View the full list of items on the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration website.
Texas
Dates: Aug. 11-13, 2023
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.
Massachusetts
Dates: Aug. 12-13, 2023
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.
Maryland
Dates: Aug. 13-19, 2023
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.
Connecticut
Dates: Aug. 20-26, 2023*
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.
*Connecticut hasn't yet announced the dates for its 2023 sales tax holiday, but we expect these dates based on previous years.
New Jersey
Dates: Aug. 26 - Sept. 4, 2023
Tax-free items
- School supplies, art supplies and instructional materials.
- Computers costing less than $3,000.
- Sports and recreational equipment.
- View the full list of items on the New Jersey Division of Taxation website.
States with sales tax holidays that have passed
Alabama
Dates: July 21-23, 2023
Tax-free items:
- Most clothing under $100, including pants, shirts, shoes, coats and school uniforms, as well as diapers.
- Computers under $750.
- School supplies costing less than $50 per item.
- Books under $30.
- For the full list of items, visit the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Mississippi
Dates: July 28-29, 2023
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.
Tennessee
Dates: July 28-30, 2023
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.
- Accessories like jewelry or handbags and sporting equipment aren't exempt.
- View the full list of items on the Tennessee Department of Revenue 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
State sales tax holiday FAQ
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.
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.
Can you save money by shopping 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, that would save you $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.