Back-to-school buying can be thrilling for children who receive new items, but it’s often a burden for the caregivers footing the bill.
TheNational Retail Federationprojects that households with students in elementary through high school will shell out $39.4 billion on back-to-school purchases — slightly higher than the $38.8 billion estimated for 2024.
Some families will find a bit of relief because 17 states offer tax-free holidays in July and August, sparing buyers from paying sales tax on certain school-related purchases.
Don’t expect massive savings from these tax-free weekends. For instance, if you spent $500 on apparel, footwear and school supplies during Florida’s tax-free weekend in a county with a 6% sales tax, you’d save roughly $30. Still, who wouldn’t welcome an extra $30?
Pairing tax-free holiday deals with careful budgeting and price comparison can stretch your back-to-school dollars even further.
Some states limit tax-free periods to a weekend, while others extend them for a full week. Each state sets its own rules about which products qualify and many cap the price for eligible items.
And if you reside in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire or Oregon, you already benefit from no statewide sales tax year-round.
Tax-Free Weekends: When, Where and What’s Included
The 17 states with back-to-school tax-free holidays this year are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Alabama
When: July 18-20
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and footwear — under $100 per item.
- School supplies — under $50 per item.
- Computers, software and computer accessories — under $750.
- Books — under $30 per item.
Arkansas
When: August 2-3
What is tax-free:
- Certain electronics, classroom supplies, art materials, instructional resources and clothing.
Connecticut
When: August 17-23
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and footwear — under $100 per item.
Florida
When: August 1-31
What is tax-free:
- Computers and related devices — $1,500 or less per unit.
- Clothing, accessories and shoes — $100 or less per item.
- School supplies — $50 or less per item.
- Learning aids and puzzles — $30 or less per item.
Iowa
When: August 1-2
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and footwear — under $100 per item.
Maryland
When: August 10-16
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and footwear — $100 or less per item.
- Backpacks — the first $40 is exempt from tax.
Massachusetts
When: August 9-10
What is tax-free:
- Most consumer items — $2,500 or less per item.
- Clothing — Massachusetts generally does not impose sales tax on apparel priced under $175 all year.
Mississippi
When: July 11-13
What is tax-free:
- Clothing, footwear and school supplies — under $100 per item.
Missouri
When: August 1-3
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and footwear — $100 or less per item.
- School supplies — $50 or less per purchase (note: graphing calculators must cost $150 or less).
- Computers and related equipment — $1,500 or less per item.
- Computer software — $350 or less.
New Mexico
When: July 25-27
What is tax-free:
- Clothing, accessories and shoes — under $100 per item.
- School supplies — under $30 per item (exceptions: backpacks, maps and globes must be under $100; calculators must be under $200).
- Computers — $1,000 or less per item.
- Computer hardware — $500 or less per item.
Ohio
When: August 1-14
What is tax-free:
- Any “tangible personal property” valued under $500, excluding watercraft, motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, vapor and marijuana products.
Oklahoma
When: August 1-3
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and footwear — under $100 per item.
South Carolina
When: August 1-3
What is tax-free:
- Clothing, accessories and footwear — no price cap.
- School supplies — no price cap.
- Computers and related equipment — no price cap.
- Bedding, pillows and bath towels — no price cap.
- Musical instruments — no price cap if they’re required for school assignments.
Tennessee
When: July 25-27
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and footwear — $100 or less per item.
- School supplies — $100 or less per item.
- Computers — $1,500 or less per item.
Texas
When: August 8-10
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and footwear — under $100 per item.
- School supplies and backpacks — under $100 per item.
Virginia
When: August 1-3
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and shoes — under $100 per item.
- School supplies — $20 or less per item.
West Virginia
When: August 1-4
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and footwear — under $125 per item.
- School supplies — under $50 per item.
- Computers — under $500 per item.
- Instructional materials — under $20 per item.
- Sports equipment — under $150 per item.
Alex Carter is a former senior writer at Savinly. Senior writer Mike Brassfield contributed to this piece.
