Sales Tax Holidays Are Back: How to Save on Back-to-School Shopping

If you live in a state with a summer sales tax holiday, a few well-timed purchases can shave real money off your back-to-school budget. In July and August 2026, 18 states are offering limited tax-free shopping windows for categories such as clothing, footwear, school supplies, and, in some cases, computers.

What a sales tax holiday is

A sales tax holiday is a limited-time period when a state waives or reduces sales tax on certain categories of purchases. These holidays are usually tied to back-to-school shopping, although some states broaden the exemption to include preparedness items or a wider set of retail purchases.

That does not mean everything in the store becomes tax-free. Each state sets its own rules, including eligible items, price caps, and whether local taxes are included in the exemption.

Why shoppers should care

For families buying clothes, shoes, notebooks, backpacks, and laptops, the savings can add up quickly when purchases are made during the holiday window. Florida, for example, is running a month-long back-to-school sales tax holiday from July 20 through August 20, 2026, covering items such as school supplies, clothing, and certain computers, subject to stated price limits. Ohio is returning to a narrower three-day holiday, August 7 through 9, 2026, after backing away from a previously broader exemption.

The biggest mistake shoppers make is assuming the tax break applies automatically to every item. In reality, states often impose per-item caps, exclude some electronics or accessories, and apply different rules to online purchases, layaways, or mixed carts.

July and August 2026 sales tax holidays

Alabama, July 17–19, Clothing, school supplies, computers

Mississippi, July 10–12, Clothing, footwear, school supplies

Tennessee, July 31–Aug 2, Clothing, school supplies, computers

New Mexico, July 31–Aug 2, Clothing, computers, school supplies

West Virginia, July 31–Aug 3, Clothing, school supplies, sports gear

Florida, July 20–Aug 20, Clothing, school supplies, learning aids, computers

Arkansas, Aug 1–2, Clothing, footwear, school supplies, some electronics

Texas, Aug 7–9, Clothing, backpacks, school supplies

South Carolina, Aug 7–9, Clothing, school supplies, computers

Oklahoma, Aug 7–9, Clothing and footwear

Ohio, Aug 7–9, Clothing, school supplies, instructional materials

Missouri, Aug 7–9, Clothing, school supplies, computers

Virginia, Aug 7–9, Clothing, school supplies, preparedness items

Maryland, Aug 9–15, Clothing, footwear, backpacks

Massachusetts, Aug 8–9, Most retail items up to a per-item cap

Connecticut, Aug 16–22, Clothing, footwear, backpacks

Iowa, Aug 7–8, Clothing and footwear

Illinois, Aug 7–16, Clothing and footwear under the reduced state tax holiday

How to get the most value

A little planning goes a long way during these short tax-free windows. Useful ways to maximize the holiday include:

• Make a list before shopping so you focus on eligible items first.
• Check item price caps, because going even a dollar over a state limit can make the full item taxable.
• Confirm how online orders are treated, since timing rules may depend on when payment is processed rather than when the item ships.
• Compare retailer promotions with the tax savings, because a regular sale can still beat a tax-free purchase on full-price merchandise.

For parents, students, and anyone helping with school shopping, the best approach is simple: know your state’s dates, know the caps, and buy the essentials during the qualifying window. The tax break may be temporary, but with a little coordination, the savings can be meaningful.