Back to School Tax-Free Weekends 2025: Sales Tax Holidays by State + Savings Tips
Save Big on Back to School! Enjoy Tax-Free Weekends & Smart Savings Tips for 2025!
Summer is here, but back-to-school shopping season is just around the corner, along with states' tax-free weekends. Seventeen states offer tax-free weekends, also known as “tax-free weekends,” providing significant savings, especially in states with high sales tax rates like California, where it can reach up to 7.25%. These events typically occur in July.
Shopping during tax-free weekends is a great way to save extra money, especially since there are often fantastic back-to-school sales coinciding with these weekends! National retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, and Target participate, ensuring that you don't pay any sales tax on eligible items during your state's designated tax-free period.
What are Tax-Free Weekends?
A tax free weekend, also called a sales tax holiday, is when states waive sales tax on certain categories like clothing, shoes, computers, and school supplies, perfect for cutting back-to-school costs. Each participating state sets its own rules and spending limits, so what qualifies can vary.
Some states also hold tax free holidays for items like hurricane supplies or Energy Star appliances, but those are separate events that usually happen earlier in the year. However, I am going to focus only on back-to-school tax free weekends, since that’s when families can save the most on essentials.
When is Tax-Free Weekend?
Each state determines its own tax-free weekend dates and eligible items. For instance, Texas typically holds its tax-free weekend in August, while Florida hosts it in July but this year will be in August. Check your state's department of revenue website or local news sources for exact dates and guidelines. Exact dates and eligible items vary by state, so it's important to check your state's guidelines.
Tax-Free Weekend Dates By State for 2025:
Alabama
Dates: July 18-20
- Clothing: Up to $100
- Computers: Up to $750
- School supplies: Up to $50
- Books: Up to $30
Arkansas
Dates: Aug. 2-3
- Clothing and footwear: Up to $99.99
- Accessories under $50
- Select school/art supplies
- Select books like workbooks, textbooks, reference materials
- Electronic Devices like laptops, desktops, calculators, cell phones, tablets (No maximum)
Connecticut
Dates: Aug. 17-23
- Clothing and footwear: Up to $99.99 per item (Excludes Athletic uniforms and gear)
Florida
Dates: Aug. 1 – August 31
- Clothing, footwear and certain accessories up to $99.99 per item
Iowa
Dates: Aug. 1-2
- Clothing and footwear: Up to $99.99
Maryland
Dates: Aug. 10-18
- Clothing and footwear: Up to $100
- Backpacks: First $40
Massachusetts
Dates: Aug. 9-10
- Retail items of up to $2,500, purchased in Massachusetts for personal use on these two days, will be exempt from sales tax.
Mississippi
Dates: July 11-13
- Clothing and footwear: Up to $99.99
- Select school supplies: Up to $99.99
Missouri
Dates: Aug. 1-3
- Clothing: Up to $100
- Computers: Up to $1,500
- School supplies: Up to $50
- Computer software under $350 per item
- Graphing calculators under $150 per item
New Mexico
Dates: Oct. 25-27
- Clothing and shoes up to $99.99 per item
- Computers under $1,000 per item
- Computer Peripheral items under $500 per item
- School supplies under $30 per item
Ohio
Dates: Aug. 1-14
- Almost all tangible personal property priced at $500 or less is tax-free
Oklahoma
Dates: Aug. 1-3
- Clothing and footwear up to $99.99
- Accessories and athletic footwear/protective gear excluded
South Carolina
Dates: Aug. 1-3
- Items include computers, school supplies and clothing, footwear, bedding, Musical Instruments, diapers
Tennessee
Dates: July 25-27
- Clothing: Up to $99.99
- School supplies: Up to $100
- Computers: Up to $1,500
- Backpacks under $100 per item
Texas
Dates: Aug. 8-10
- Clothing & footwear items up to $99.99 per item (excludes athletic gear)
- School & art supplies up to $99.99$
- Backpacks under $100 per item
Virginia
Dates: Aug. 1-3
- Clothing: Up to $99.99
- School supplies under $20 per item
West Virginia
Dates: Aug. 1-4
- Clothing under $125 per item
- School supplies under $50 per item
- School instruction material under $20 per item
- Laptop and tablet computers under $500 per item
- Sports equipment under $150 per item
Tax Free Weekend: FAQ
What items are usually eligible for tax exemption during these weekends?
The most common eligible items include clothing and footwear such as shirts, pants, and sneakers, along with school supplies like notebooks, backpacks, calculators, and pens. Many states also extend the exemption to computers, tablets, and related electronics. Florida allows laptops up to $1,500. In some cases, textbooks and even dorm essentials like bedding or storage bins qualify, especially in states with broader rules such as Massachusetts. Since each state sets its own categories and price limits, it’s always worth checking the official rules before you shop.
Does Amazon and Walmart have a tax-free weekend?
Amazon and Walmart doesn't host there own tax-free weekend, but they does honor state-level sales tax holidays by automatically applying exemptions to qualifying purchases during those periods.
Do online purchases qualify for the tax exemption?
Yes, in most states, online purchases made during the tax-free weekend qualify for the sales tax exemption and online orders only qualify if shipped to a participating state and the retailer applies the exemption correctly.
Are there any limitations or exclusions to be aware of?
Yes. Common exclusions include accessories like jewelry, and handbags and certain electronics unless used for education.
