Tax Planning How the Tax-Free Weekend Can Boost Your Back-to-School Savings Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by Zina Kumok Published Jun 21, 2024 4 min read Reviewed by Jotika Teli, CPA Lena Hanna, CPA If you’re looking to mitigate back-to-school shopping costs, you might want to consider taking advantage of the”tax-free weekend” offered in many states. Let’s take a look at how these weekends work, which states offer them, and what type of purchases are eligible. What is a Tax-Free Weekend? Most states charge sales tax, which is a tax levied on items you purchase. The more you spend, the more you’ll pay in taxes. To help struggling consumers, many states offer a tax-free weekend during which they will not charge sales tax. Tax-free weekends are usually held right before school starts so that parents and students can save on clothes, laptops, school supplies, and other necessities. The tax holiday applies to both in-store and online purchases. If you purchase an item online, the tax discount will still apply even if the item is delivered after the holiday is over. Every state has its own limits on what you can buy tax-free. For example, most states have a limit of $100 for each clothing item. Therefore, if you buy a $125 winter coat, you’ll still have to pay taxes on it. However, in most states, adults can also save money during the tax-free weekend because the discount doesn’t just apply to children’s clothing and accessory items. It also applies to electronics and office supplies, too. Teachers and childcare professionals can also buy classroom supplies during this time. You don’t have to be a resident of the state to benefit from the tax holiday. If you live near a state with a tax-free weekend, you can still take advantage of the discount. Before you hit the stores, you should ensure that the tax-free discount doesn’t lead you to buy more than you can actually afford. Write out what you truly need to buy beforehand. Remember, you’re not saving money if you end up spending more than you would have otherwise. Find Your State Table of Contents AlabamaArkansasConnecticutFloridaIowaMarylandMassachusettsMississippiMissouriNew JerseyNew MexicoOhioOklahoma South CarolinaTennesseeTexasWest Virginia Alabama Dates: July 19-21 Tax rate: 4% Eligible items: School supplies $50 or less per item Clothing $100 or less per item Computers $750 or less Learn more Arkansas Dates: Aug. 3-4 Tax rate: 6.5% Eligible items: Clothing items $100 or less Clothing accessories $50 or less per item Certain school supplies, including pencils, notebooks, binders and more Learn more Connecticut Dates: Aug. 18-24 Tax rate: 6.35% Eligible items: Clothing or shoes $100 or less per item Florida Dates: July 29-Aug. 11 Tax rate: 6% Eligible items: School supplies $50 or less per item Clothes or accessories $100 or less Learning aids or jigsaw puzzles $30 or less Computers & related accessories for personal use $1,500 or less Learn more Iowa Dates: Aug. 2-3 Tax rate: 6% Eligible items: Clothes and accessories $100 or less per item Learn more Maryland Dates: Aug. 11-17 Tax rate: 6% Eligible items: Clothing and shoes $100 or less per item The first $40 of a backpack Learn more Massachusetts Dates: Aug. 10-11 Tax rate: 6.25% Eligible items: Certain retail goods for personal use worth $2,500 or less Massachusetts always exempts the first $175 of a clothing item Learn more Mississippi Dates: July 12-14 Tax rate: 7% Eligible items: Clothing, shoes, or school supplies $100 or less per item Learn more Missouri Dates: Aug. 2-4 Tax rate: 4.225% Eligible items: Clothes $100 or less School supplies $50 or less per purchase Computers $1,500 or less Software $350 or less Graphing calculators $150 or less Learn more New Jersey Dates: Aug. 24-Sept. 2 Tax rate: 6.625% Eligible items: Clothes and shoes School supplies Certain computers under $3,000 School computer supplies under $1,000 Instructional materials Some sports and recreation equipment Learn more New Mexico Dates: Aug. 2-4 Tax rate: 5.125% Eligible items: Clothing or shoes $100 or less per item Computers or tablets $1,000 or less Computer hardware $500 or less School supplies $30 or less per item Learn more Ohio Dates: Aug. 2-4 Tax rate: 5.75% Eligible items: Clothes $75 or less School supplies and instructional materials $20 or less Learn more Oklahoma Dates: Aug. 2-4 Tax rate: 4.5% Eligible items: Clothing or shoes $100 or less per item Learn more South Carolina Dates: Aug. 2-4 Tax rate: 6% Eligible items: School supplies, clothes, and computers Learn more Tennessee Dates: July 26-28 Tax rate: 7% Eligible items: Clothing $100 or less per item School and art supplies $100 or less per item Computers for personal use $1,500 or less Learn more Texas Dates: Aug. 9-11 Tax rate: 6.25% Eligible items: Clothing, shoes, school supplies and backpacks $100 or less Learn more West Virginia Dates: Aug. 2-5 Tax Rate: 6% Eligible Items: Clothing of $125 or less Laptop and tablet computers of $500 or less School supplies of $50 or less Sports equipment of $150 or less Learn More NO SALES TAX HOLIDAY: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Previous Post 5 Ways to Boost Next Year’s Tax Refund Now Next Post Tax Credits vs. Tax Deductions: What Are the Differences? Written by zinakumok Zina Kumok is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance. A former reporter, she has covered murder trials, the Final Four and everything in between. She has been featured in Lifehacker, DailyWorth and Time. Read about how she paid off $28,000 worth of student loans in three years at Conscious Coins. More from zinakumok Visit the website of zinakumok. 11 responses to “How to Boost Your Back-to-School Savings” Is Washington state included? Reply Where is my state ? Wisconsin is not listed in any category…… Reply Hi Paul, Unfortunately at this time it does not appear that Wisconsin has any sales tax holidays scheduled for 2023. Please check back as we will continue to update this information. Sincerely, Katharina Reekmans Reply Wisconsin, I believe will fall under Minnesota. My state, NY will definitely not do a tax free weekend. They are looking for money. Reply Arizona State doesn’t have this! Being so close to the border and all the parents from Mexico coming here to buy school supplies would really help! Reply you may be able to enjoy tax free shopping for school supplies in several states. If you have several kids going to school this year, you can boost your savings picking up paper, pens, calculators, and back packs. Reply How this work Reply Figures that Calif does not do this. For a state that is already broke (well that is what they tell us) helping schools for a change, would be just so not them. With all the money the lottery gives, why could they not help “Families” who live in this state. That would be to much like right… Reply You said, in your email, that I could find out if my state offered the school purchases sales tax saving. Why, then, am I unable to find that information? Reply This is confusing — according to this site Oklahoma is 8/1, but on the OK Sales Tax website it is 8/7 to 8/9 Reply Ok Reply Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Tax Planning The Impact of Back-to-School Sales Tax Day Tax Tips What are State Sales Taxes? Tax News A Closer Look at Uncollected Online Sales Tax Tax Deductions and Credits Expiring Tax Provisions and Steps to Take Before the End of 2013 Income Tax by State Pennsylvania state income tax in 2025: A guide Tax News How is Your Oktoberfest Beer Taxed? Income Tax by State Alaska State Income Tax in 2025: A Guide Education Tax Extender: Educator Expense Deduction Set to Expire Tax Deductions and Credits The State Sales Tax Deduction Tax Deductions and Credits Tax Extenders Passed: This Could Mean More Money for You and Your Family!
Hi Paul, Unfortunately at this time it does not appear that Wisconsin has any sales tax holidays scheduled for 2023. Please check back as we will continue to update this information. Sincerely, Katharina Reekmans Reply
Wisconsin, I believe will fall under Minnesota. My state, NY will definitely not do a tax free weekend. They are looking for money. Reply
Arizona State doesn’t have this! Being so close to the border and all the parents from Mexico coming here to buy school supplies would really help! Reply
you may be able to enjoy tax free shopping for school supplies in several states. If you have several kids going to school this year, you can boost your savings picking up paper, pens, calculators, and back packs. Reply
Figures that Calif does not do this. For a state that is already broke (well that is what they tell us) helping schools for a change, would be just so not them. With all the money the lottery gives, why could they not help “Families” who live in this state. That would be to much like right… Reply
You said, in your email, that I could find out if my state offered the school purchases sales tax saving. Why, then, am I unable to find that information? Reply
This is confusing — according to this site Oklahoma is 8/1, but on the OK Sales Tax website it is 8/7 to 8/9 Reply