Texas waives sales tax on most school supplies, clothing on Aug. 10-12
Whether you’re in need of backpacks, crayons or new school clothes, if you’re in Texas on Aug. 10-12, you can save money on those and certain other items during the state’s sales tax holiday. This year, the Texas sales tax holiday is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10-12.
The law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced below $100 from sales tax, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend during the weekend.
“As Texas families begin the process of replacing their beach bags with book bags, Texas’ sales tax holiday is the perfect opportunity to save some money on the supplies families need before the school bell rings,” Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. “As a dad to three young children, I know how these expenses can add up.”
For specific school supplies and clothing that may be purchased tax-free, click on the link below:
Only the school supplies on this list priced under $100 qualify for exemption from tax during the sales tax holiday.
- Backpacks*
- Binders
- Blackboard chalk
- Book bags
- Calculators
- Cellophane tape
- Compasses
- Composition books
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Folders – expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
- Glue, paste and paste sticks
- Highlighters
- Index cards
- Index card boxes
- Kits**
- Legal pads
- Lunch boxes
- Markers (including dry erase markers)
- Notebooks
- Paper – loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
- Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
- Pencil sharpeners
- Pencils
- Pens
- Protractors
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Writing tablets
*Backpacks: During the sales tax holiday, student backpacks sold for less than $100 are exempt from tax. The exemption includes backpacks with wheels and messenger bags. You can buy up to 10 backpacks tax free at one time without giving an exemption certificate to the seller. The following items do not qualify for this exemption:
- framed backpacks
- luggage
- briefcases
- athletic, duffle or gym bags
- computer bags
- purses
**For kits of school supplies that contain exempt items, as well as taxable ones, the taxability depends on the value of exempt or taxable items in it. There is no limit on the quantity of school supplies in a kit, but if the value of the exempt items is more than the taxable ones, the kit is exempt. If the value of the taxable items is more than the exempt ones, then the kit is taxable.
The items on this list will qualify for exemption from tax during the sales tax holiday if they are priced under $100.
- Aprons (household)
- Athletic socks
- Baby bibs
- Baby clothes
- Belts with attached buckles
- Blouses
- Boots
- General purpose
- Cowboy
- Hiking
- Bras
- Camp clothes
- Caps (baseball, fishing, golf)
- Children’s novelty costumes
- Coats and wraps
- Coveralls
- Diapers (cloth and disposable, adult and children’s)
- Dresses
- Earmuffs for cold weather
- Gloves (generally)
- Dress (unless rented)
- Leather
- Golf accessories
- Golf caps
- Golf dresses
- Golf jackets and windbreakers
- Golf shirts
- Golf skirts
- Graduation caps and gowns
- Gym suits and uniforms
- Hats
- Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
- Hosiery, including support hosiery panty hose
- Jackets
- Knitted caps or hats
- Leg warmers
- Leotards and tights
- Masks, costume
- Pants including jeans, trousers
- Raincoats and ponchos
- Rain hats
- Religious clothing
- Robes
- Scarves
- Scout uniforms
- Shawls and wraps
- Shirts — including jerseys, bowling shirts
- Shoes (generally)
- Boat
- Cross trainers
- Dress
- Flip-flops (rubber thongs)
- Jellies
- Running (without cleats)
- Safety (suitable for everyday use)
- Sandals
- Slippers
- Sneakers and tennis
- Walking
- Shorts
- Skirts
- Sleepwear, nightgowns, pajamas
- Slippers
- Slips
- Socks
- Suits, slacks, and jackets
- Suspenders
- Sweatshirts
- Sweat suits
- Sweaters
- Swimsuits
- Tennis accessories
- Tennis dresses
- Tennis shorts
- Tennis shoes
- Tennis skirts
- Ties (neckties – all)
- Tights
- Underclothes
- Underpants
- Undershirts
- Uniforms (school, work, nurse, waitress, military, postal, police, fire, chef)
- Veils
- Vests (generally)
- Fishing (non-flotation)
- Hunting Work clothes
- Workout clothes
Some items that will NOT be tax-free include accessories, such as hair clips, jewelry, watches, etc.; shoes with cleats; some types of boots, such as climbing boots, rubber boots; shoe laces; helmets; specialized shoes, such as ballet shoes; and more. Lists of apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax-free, as well as which items will not be tax-free, can be found on the Comptroller’s website at TexasTaxHoliday.org.
This year, shoppers will save an estimated $90.3 million in state and local sales taxes during the sales tax holiday.
Texas’ tax holiday weekend has been an annual event since 1999.
