Back-to-school shopping season is arriving alongside sales tax holidays in several states, giving families a limited opportunity to reduce the cost of clothing, school supplies, computers and other qualifying purchases. The savings may appear modest on a single notebook or shirt, but they can become more meaningful when a household is purchasing supplies for multiple children.
The rules are not uniform across the country. Some states exempt only clothing and traditional school supplies, while others include computers, accessories, art materials or a broader range of personal property.
The dates below reflect programs active or still upcoming as of July 31, 2026. The Federation of Tax Administrators’ state-by-state calendar notes that shoppers should also consult the appropriate state revenue department because local participation, exclusions and transaction rules can differ.
Florida: July 20 Through August 20
Florida is offering one of the longest back-to-school tax holidays in the country, running from July 20 through August 20. Qualifying purchases include learning aids priced at $30 or less, school supplies priced at $50 or less, clothing priced at $100 or less and personal computers priced at $1,500 or less.
The monthlong window gives families more flexibility than a conventional weekend sale. Shoppers should still confirm whether a particular accessory or electronic device meets the state’s definition before assuming it is exempt.
New Mexico: July 31 Through August 2
New Mexico’s gross receipts tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on July 31 and ends at midnight on August 2. School supplies priced at $30 or less, clothing and shoes priced below $100, computers priced at $1,000 or less and certain computer equipment priced at $500 or less can qualify.
Families making a major technology purchase should carefully distinguish a qualifying computer from accessories that may have separate limitations. Retailers can provide guidance, but the state taxation department remains the authoritative source when a product falls into a disputed category.
Tennessee: July 31 Through August 2
Tennessee’s back-to-school holiday covers clothing and school supplies priced at $100 or less per item. Computers priced at $1,500 or less can also qualify during the period that begins July 31 and ends August 2.
The per-item limit means a household can purchase several qualifying pieces of clothing as long as each individual item falls within the cap. A computer exceeding the threshold does not become partially exempt simply because the first $1,500 would otherwise qualify.
West Virginia: July 31 Through August 3
West Virginia’s sales tax holiday extends through Monday, August 3. The program covers clothing priced at $125 or less, computers priced at $500 or less, instructional materials priced at $20 or less, school supplies priced at $50 or less and certain sports equipment priced at $150 or less.
The inclusion of sports equipment makes the program broader than many clothing-only holidays. Parents should verify that a product fits the statutory category because recreational merchandise and qualifying school athletic equipment may not be treated identically.
Arkansas: August 1 and 2
Arkansas begins its back-to-school holiday at 12:01 a.m. on August 1 and ends it at 11:59 p.m. on August 2. Clothing and footwear priced below $100, accessories priced below $50, school supplies, art supplies, instructional materials and qualifying electronic devices are included.
The electronic-device provision may make the Arkansas program especially useful for families buying technology. Shoppers should consult the state’s official item list instead of assuming that every device sold near a back-to-school display qualifies.
Illinois: August 7 Through August 16
Illinois is reducing the state sales tax rate on qualifying back-to-school purchases from 6.25% to 1.25% between August 7 and August 16. The program applies to qualifying clothing and footwear priced below $125 and to certain school, art, instructional and computer supplies.
This is a rate reduction rather than a complete sales tax exemption. Local taxes may also continue to apply, so the final receipt may still show a meaningful tax charge.
Iowa: August 7 and 8
Iowa’s annual holiday covers qualifying clothing and footwear priced below $100 per item on August 7 and 8. Traditional school supplies, computers and many accessories are not part of the exemption merely because they are purchased for a student.
Families should therefore separate their shopping lists into qualifying and nonqualifying categories. A retailer’s promotion may combine both types of merchandise, but only eligible products receive the tax treatment.
Missouri: August 7 Through August 9
Missouri’s back-to-school holiday covers clothing priced at $100 or less, school supplies priced at $50 or less, software priced at $350 or less and computers or computer peripherals priced at $1,500 or less. Graphing calculators priced at $150 or less are also included.
The technology limits make Missouri’s program potentially valuable for college and high-school students. Consumers should check whether local jurisdictions are participating and review the state’s definitions for peripherals and software.
Ohio: August 7 Through August 9
Ohio’s 2026 sales tax holiday runs for three days instead of the expanded 10-day program used in the previous two years. Clothing priced at $75 or less, school supplies priced at $20 or less and school instructional materials priced at $20 or less qualify.
The return to narrower categories makes advance planning important. Families who remember the broader 2024 or 2025 rules should not assume that the same merchandise remains exempt in 2026.
Oklahoma: August 7 Through August 9
Oklahoma exempts qualifying clothing and footwear priced below $100 per item during the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of August. The 2026 holiday therefore runs from August 7 through August 9.
The exemption does not generally extend to school supplies or computers. Parents who are shopping for both clothing and classroom materials should expect only part of the transaction to receive the tax benefit.
South Carolina: August 7 Through August 9
South Carolina’s tax-free weekend covers clothing, accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers, printers and qualifying software. Unlike several other states, its back-to-school program does not rely on the same narrow per-item price caps for the principal eligible categories.
That broader structure can make the weekend attractive for larger purchases. Consumers should nevertheless review exclusions because furniture, jewelry, cosmetics and other items may remain taxable even when sold by a participating retailer.
Texas: August 7 Through August 9
Texas exempts many items of clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced below $100 each. The state’s holiday begins August 7 and concludes August 9.
The threshold applies to each qualifying item rather than the entire transaction. Delivery charges connected to an item may affect whether its final sales price remains below the limit, so online shoppers should examine the complete charge before ordering.
Virginia: August 7 Through August 9
Virginia’s holiday covers school supplies priced at $20 or less and clothing or footwear priced at $100 or less. The same weekend also includes selected emergency-preparedness and Energy Star products under separate price limits.
The presence of several categories makes Virginia’s program more complicated than a standard clothing exemption. Shoppers should review the state list before combining school purchases with appliances or hurricane-preparation products.
Massachusetts: August 8 and 9
Massachusetts offers a broad sales tax holiday for many items of tangible personal property costing $2,500 or less. The 2026 program was authorized for August 8 and 9.
The exemption is not limited to school merchandise, although several statutory exclusions remain. Consumers planning a large purchase should confirm that the item is for personal use and does not fall into an excluded category.
Maryland: August 9 Through August 15
Maryland’s Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week covers qualifying clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less. The first $40 of a qualifying backpack or bookbag is also exempt.
The backpack rule is not a complete exemption for every bag regardless of price. A family buying a more expensive backpack may still owe tax on the portion above the exempt amount.
Connecticut: August 16 Through August 22
Connecticut’s sales tax-free week covers clothing and footwear priced below $300 per item. The 2026 program raises the previous $100 limit and adds items such as cleated shoes and backpacks.
Connecticut has also introduced a separate year-round exemption for certain nonelectronic school supplies beginning July 1, 2026. Families should distinguish that permanent provision from the temporary clothing and footwear holiday.
Do Online Purchases Qualify?
Online purchases may qualify in many states, but the controlling date can depend on when the order is accepted, paid for, shipped or delivered. A product that enters an online cart during the holiday is not automatically protected if the transaction is completed after the deadline.
Shipping, handling and bundled-product rules can also affect eligibility. Consumers should retain receipts and use the linked state revenue pages in the Federation of Tax Administrators’ calendar when a purchase is close to a price limit.
How Much Can a Family Actually Save?
The value depends on the local tax rate and the amount of qualifying merchandise. A family spending $500 in an area with a combined 7% tax rate could avoid approximately $35 in tax if every item qualifies and the jurisdiction fully participates.
That saving is useful, but it should not become an excuse to purchase unnecessary merchandise. A discounted product still costs money, and the most effective back-to-school strategy remains checking existing supplies before shopping.
