Shop tax-free in Texas: When is the tax holiday in Texas and what items are included?

Texans can save some cash this weekend while helping students get the supplies they’ll need to return to the classroom over the coming weeks.

With back-to-school season upon us, the state will hold a tax-free weekend this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (August 9-11). According to the Texas comptroller’s office, no sales tax will be charged on purchases of most clothing, shoes, school supplies, and backpacks that cost less than $100.

What items participate in the tax-free weekend in Texas?

All taxpayers are encouraged to continue practicing social distancing and supporting Texas businesses while saving money on tax-free purchases. During the annual tax-free weekend, clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks are all included.

Qualifying items can be purchased tax-free from a Texas store or an online or catalog seller in Texas. In most cases, you don’t need to give the seller an exemption certificate to buy qualifying items tax-free.

The sales tax exemption applies only to qualifying items you buy during the 3-day sales tax holiday. Items you buy before or after the sales tax holiday do not qualify for exemption, and there’s no tax refund available.

Unqualified products

Any item that falls into the qualifying category and costs more than $100 will still be subject to tax. The Comptroller’s list of exempted items includes a full list. However, one of the benefits of the holiday is that there is no limit on the number of items that can be purchased if they are exempt from tax. So, for instance, if you are looking to stock up on diapers, this weekend would be a good time to make that purchase.

For more information or questions, contact Tax Help at 800-252-5555 or visit the Tax Free Weekend website.