As summer winds down, parents nationwide are gearing up for the annual back-to-school shopping frenzy. In an effort to ease the financial strain on families and support education, several states are offering relief from sales taxes on essential back-to-school needs. From backpacks and laptops to clothing and school supplies, these tax-free holidays help you grab the gear your students need without breaking the bank. This article will give you a detailed overview of each state’s tax-free policy.
Alabama
Several Counties in Alabama are participating in the States Tax Holiday in 2025 which begins at 12:01 a.m. on the third Friday in July and ends at midnight on the following Sunday.
Eligible Items
- Certain items of clothing – $100 or less per item
- Computers, computer software, and school computer supplies – $750 or less
- School supplies, school art supplies, and school instructional material – $50 or less per item
- Books – $30 or less, per book
The full list of eligible items for 2025 can be found here
Arkansas
The State of Arkansas hosts its Sales Tax Holiday beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday August 2, 2025, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday August 3, 2025. All retailers are required to participate and may not charge tax on items that are legally tax-exempt during the Sales Tax Holiday.
Eligible Items
- Certain items of clothing – $100 or less per item
- Clothing Accessories or Equipment – Less Than $50 per Item
- Electronic Devices such as Computers, Laptops, Calculators, and more.
- School supplies, school art supplies, and school instructional material
- Books – $30 or less, per book
The full list of eligible items for 2025 can be found here
Connecticut
Connecticut’s Sales Tax-Free Week runs from August 18, 2025 thru August 24, 2025.
Most clothing and footwear items priced less than $100 are exempt from Connecticut’s 6.35% sales tax. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing less than $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer in the same transaction. It applies to purchases made in-store, online, mail-order, and over the phone.
More information can be found here.
Florida
Florida’s Back to School Holiday runs from August 1 – 31, 2025.
Eligible Items
- Certain items of clothing – $100 or less per item
- Learning aids nd jigsaw puzzles – $30 or less per item.
- Computers and related accessories – $1,500 or less (must be non-commercial use)
- Most school supplies – $50 or less per item.
The full list of eligible items for 2025 can be found here
The sales tax holiday does not apply to the
Iowa
Iowa’s annual sales tax holiday is held on the first begins at 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August and ending at 12:00 am midnight the following day (Saturday) of August 2025. All open businesses are required to participate. This States Tax Holiday appears basic on the surface, but an examination of eligible items reveals an array of eligible items, including Adult Diapers and Lingerie. Oddly, the State of Iowa lists Lingerie as an exempt item but excludes backpacks. Interesting indeed. The full list of eligible items for 2025 can be found here.
Maryland
In Maryland, the second Sunday of August to the following Saturday is designated as Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week each year. In 2025, the Tax-Free Week runs from August 10 – August 16, 2025.
Eligible Items
- Certain apparel and footwear- $100 or less per item
- Backpack or bookbag purchases – First $40 is tax-free.
Additional details can be found here.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday occurs on Saturday, August 9, 2025 and Sunday, August 10, 2025.
Eligible Items
- Eligible items bought for personal use costing $2,500 or less.
Additional details can be found here..
Missouri
Missouri state law provides a sales tax tax holiday that begins on the first Friday in August and continues through the following Sunday. The 2025 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 1, and runs through Sunday, August 3.
Eligible Items
- Certain items of clothing – $100 or less per item
- School Supplies – $50 or less per item.
- Computer software- $350 or less
- Personal computers – not to exceed $1,500
- Computer peripheral devices – not to exceed $1,500
- Graphing calculators – not to exceed $150
Details on eligible items for 2025 can be found here
New Mexico
The New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax Holiday begins on begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025 and ends on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at midnight.
Eligible Items
- Certain items of clothing, footwear, and accessories – $100 or less per item
- Computers – up to $1,000
- Computer – Related Items – up to $500
- School Supplies and books- under $30
- Calculators – under $200
- Backpacks (school) – under $100
- Maps and Globes – under $100
The full list of eligible items for 2025 can be found here
Ohio
Ohio provides a permanent sales tax holiday on the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of August of each year. In 2025, the Tax Holiday runs from 12:00 a.m. on August 1 until 11:59 p.m. on August 14.
Eligible Items
- Almost all tangible personal property priced at $500 or less.
Exclusions
- Watercraft or outboard motors
- Motor vehicles
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco products
- Vapor products
- Items containing marijuana
A list of FAQ about the exemptions can be found here.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s tax holiday runs from the first Friday through Sunday of August. In 2025, the Tax Holiday runs from Friday, August 1, 2025 to Sunday, August 3, 2025.
Eligible Items
Sales of any article of clothing or footwear designed to be worn on or about the human body and the sales price of the article is less than one hundred dollars are exempt. This does not apply to the sale of any accessories, special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except when used for athletic activity or protective use, or to the rental of clothing or footwear.
Oklahoma’s tax holiday includes online sales. Details can be found here
South Carolina
South Carolina’s Tax Free Weekend has been ongoing since 2000. In 2023, the Tax Holiday runs from Friday, August 1, 2025 to Sunday, August 3, 2025.
South Carolina is one of the few states that doesn’t have a dollar amount limit for eligible items.
Eligible Items
- Art supplies for school
- Athletic uniforms
- Backpacks
- Bedding and Towels
- Clothing, including coats and jackets
- Computers and printers
- Diapers
- Earbuds and headphones
- Musical instruments for school
South Carolina’s tax holiday includes online sales. Details on other eligible items can be found here
Tennessee
Tennessee’s sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
South Carolina is one of the few states that doesn’t have a dollar amount limit for eligible items.
Eligible Items
- General apparel – $100 or less
- School and art supplies – $100 or less per item
- Computers and Laptops for personal use – $1,500 or less
Details on other eligible items can be found here
Texas
They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and I guess that also applies to sales tax holidays. The state of Texas offers four tax holidays throughout the year. The state’s back-to-school tax holiday takes place from Friday, Aug. 8, 2025 and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.
Eligible Items
- Clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks – $100 or less
Details on other eligible items can be found here
West Virginia
The West Virginia state Sales Tax Holiday begins each year on the Friday before the first Sunday in August and ends the following Monday. For 2025, the Tax Holiday begins at 12:00 a.m. on Friday August 1, 2025 and will end at 11:59 p.m. on Monday August 4, 2025.
Eligible Items
- Clothing – $125 or less
- Certain laptop and tablet computers – $500 or less
- Certain school instructional material – $20 or less
- Certain school supplies (including backpacks) – $50 or less
- Certain sports equipment – $150 or less
Details on other eligible items can be found here
