What to Know About Back-to-School Tax-Free Weekends
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Back-to-school shopping can be some of the most fond memories of childhood! We all remember how special it felt to go into Walmart and check off our list of pens, pencils, planners, folders, notebooks, and other supplies for the school year ahead. But it can also get expensive, especially nowadays. Between new clothes, backpacks, computers, lunch boxes,, school supplies, and more, there are plenty of school supplies to budget for. Luckily, back to school tax-free weekends can help ease some of those costs.
Many states offer a weekend or a set of dates ahead of the school year where no state sales or use tax will be applied to certain goods or specific items. These fees can really add up in the long run, especially if you have multiple kids, or if they’re attending a new school or grade level, like junior high, high school, or college. Taking advantage of these tax-free days will definitely help keep some cash in your wallet while school shopping.
What Is a Tax-Free Weekend?
A back-to-school tax-free weekend is a specific set of dates (usually falling on a weekend) where certain qualifying school supplies or goods defined by the individual state are exempt from taxes. Items will vary state-by-state and may include or exclude a variety of different goods.
When Are Back-to-School Tax-Free Weekends 2024?
Each state has a different set of dates for their back-to-school tax-free weekend, but it will usually fall on a weekend prior to the start of the school year.
What Happens During Tax-Free Days?
Tax-free days may include tax-exempt items relevant to school or education. This can include things like backpacks, writing supplies, notebooks, binders, and more. However, these items will vary state-by-state. Each state will have a defined set of goods that are included in the tax exemption. Likewise, each state will also have a defined set of items that are not included in the tax exemption.
2024 Tax-Free Weekends By State
| State | Dates | Items Included & Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | July 19 – 21 | clothing $100 computers $750 school supplies $50 books $30 per item |
| Arkansas | August 3 – 4 | clothing and footwear $100 per item school supplies |
| Connecticut | August 18 – 24 | clothing and footwear $100 |
| Florida | July 29 – August 11 | school supplies $50 clothing $100 computers $1,500 |
| Iowa | August 2 – 3 | clothing $100 |
| Maryland | August 11 – 17 | clothing and footwear $100 |
| Massachusetts | August 10 – 11 | most single items of tangible personal property $2,500 |
| Mississippi | July 12 – 14 | clothing and footwear $100 |
| Missouri | August 2 – 4 | clothing $100 computers $1,500 school supplies $50 |
| New Mexico | August 2 – 4 | clothing $100 computers $1,000 computer equipment $500 school supplies $30 |
| Ohio | August 2 – 4 | clothing $75 school supplies $20 |
| Oklahoma | August 2 – 4 | clothing $100 |
| South Carolina | August 2 – 4 | clothing school supplies computers other |
| Tennessee | July 26 – 28 | food and food ingredients clothing $100 school supplies $100 computers $1,500 |
| Texas | August 9 – 11 | clothing, backpacks, and school supplies $100 |
| Virginia | August 2 – 4 | clothing $100 school supplies $20 energy star products $2500 hurricane preparedness items $60 generators $1,000 |
| West Virginia | August 2 – 5 | clothing $125 school supplies $20 sports equipment $150 computer-tablet $500 |
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