Back to school tax holidays return in 16 states as costs climb
Sixteen states are waiving or reducing sales tax on supplies, clothing and tech as NRF says families face $864 K-12 costs.
By Sal Moretti · Money Reporter
3 min read
Back to school tax holidays are giving shoppers in 16 states a brief shot at relief as school-year bills bite harder. A National Retail Federation consumer survey says college students are expected to spend an average of $1,438 before classes begin, while families with K-12 students are looking at about $864.
Allison Zeller, the NRF’s vice president of consumer and industry insights, said affordability is a major concern this season and shoppers are trying to make their money go further.
What is a back-to-school tax holiday?
A back-to-school tax holiday is a short period when a state suspends or cuts sales tax on eligible items such as clothing, shoes, school supplies, computers or backpacks. Rules vary by state, including price caps and whether online purchases qualify, so shoppers need to check their state’s guidance before loading the cart.
The savings can be real on big-ticket tech. In Tennessee, a $1,400 laptop bought during the tax-free weekend would avoid $98 in state sales tax, plus $21 to $38 in local taxes depending on the county.
Which states have back-to-school tax holidays in 2026?
State tax and revenue notices list these late-July and August tax holidays, with different limits on what qualifies:
- Arkansas: Aug. 1-2, with clothing and shoes under $100, accessories under $50, and all school supplies, art supplies and electronic devices exempt.
- Connecticut: Aug. 16-22, with clothing and footwear under $300 exempt.
- Florida: July 20-Aug. 20, covering computers, tablets and accessories under $1,500; bags under $100; school supplies under $50; clothing, shoes and accessories under $100; and learning aids and jigsaw puzzles under $30.
- Illinois: Aug. 7-16, with the state sales-tax rate cut from 6.25% to 1.25% on certain school supplies at any price and clothing and shoes under $125.
- Iowa: Aug. 7-8, with clothing and shoes under $100 exempt.
- Maryland: Aug. 9-15, with clothing and shoes under $100 exempt, along with the first $40 of a backpack purchase.
- Massachusetts: Aug. 8-9, with most retail items under $2,500 exempt.
- Missouri: Aug. 7-9, covering clothing under $100, school supplies under $50 per purchase, computer software under $350, graphing calculators under $150, and computers and accessories under $1,500.
- New Mexico: July 31-Aug. 2, covering clothing and shoes under $100, computers and tablets under $1,000, other computer hardware under $500, and school supplies under $30.
- Ohio: Aug. 7-9, with clothing under $75, school supplies under $20 and school instructional materials under $20 exempt.
- Oklahoma: Aug. 7-9, with clothing and shoes under $100 exempt.
- South Carolina: Aug. 7-9, with clothing, shoes, school supplies, computers and backpacks exempt.
- Tennessee: July 31-Aug. 2, with clothing and shoes under $100 and computers under $1,500 tax-free.
- Texas: Aug. 7-9, covering most clothing, shoes, school supplies and backpacks under $100.
- Virginia: Aug. 7-9, covering school supplies under $20, clothing and shoes under $100, certain hurricane-preparedness items, and Energy Star and WaterSense products under $2,500.
- West Virginia: July 31-Aug. 3, covering clothing under $125, laptops and tablets under $500, school supplies under $50, school instruction materials under $20, and sports equipment under $150.
The windows are short, and the fine print is doing a lot of work. Shoppers who plan around the dates and caps stand to keep more cash in their pockets before the first bell rings.
This story draws on original reporting from MarketWatch.