Ready or not, back-to-school shopping season is upon us. Back-to-school shopping is the second largest shopping event of the year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). As many as one in five families start shopping for school supplies as early as June, and the spend-fest continues through the summer. Luckily, for parents in some states there is a much-needed bit of financial help in the form of sales tax holidays.
Tax-free weekends and back-to-school tax holidays are an annual tradition in several states. Typically, these “holidays” last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and they provide families with the chance to purchase must-have tax-free school supplies, electronics and even diapers and clothing without the added burden of their state’s regular sales tax. In total, 17 states are offering tax-free school supplies during back-to-school sales tax holidays in 2024.
Wondering if your state has a sales tax holiday for school supplies? Here’s a guide to every state that has a back-to-school tax-free weekend in 2024 and what tax-free school supplies you can expect to save money on while you’re shopping.
Sales tax holidays in every U.S. state
| State | Tax Holiday Dates | What’s included in this sales tax holiday? |
| Alabama | July 19-21, 2024 | Clothing (up to $100 per item), diapers, computers (up to $750), school supplies (up to $50 per item) and books (up to $30 each). |
| Alaska | No tax holiday. | Sales tax is determined by individual municipalities. |
| Arizona | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Arkansas | August 3-4, 2024 | School and art supplies, electronics (up to $50 per item), school instructional materials, diapers and clothing and footwear (up to $100 per item). |
| California | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Colorado | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Connecticut | August 18-24, 2024 | Clothing and footwear (up to $100 per item). Excludes accessories and protective or athletic clothing. |
| Delaware | No tax holiday. | Delaware does not have a state sales tax. |
| Florida | July 29-August 11, 2024 | Clothing (up to $100 per item), school supplies (up to $50 per item) and computers and accessories (up to $1,500 per item). |
| Georgia | No tax holiday. | The state discontinued sales tax holidays in 2016. |
| Hawaii | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Idaho | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Illinois | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Indiana | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Iowa | August 2-3, 2024 | Select clothing and footwear (up to $100 per item). |
| Kansas | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Kentucky | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Louisiana | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Maine | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Maryland | August 11-17, 2024 | Clothing and footwear (up to $100 per item), backpacks and book bags (tax relief only applies to the first $40 spent on these items). |
| Massachusetts | August 10-11, 2024 | Most retail items for personal use up to $2,500. Excludes food items, utilities and transportation. |
| Michigan | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Minnesota | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Mississippi | July 12-14, 2024 | Clothing, footwear, accessories and school supplies (up to $100 per item). |
| Missouri | August 2-4, 2024 | Clothing and diapers (up to $100 per item), personal computers and electronic devices (up to $1,500), graphing calculators (up to $150), computer software (up to $350) and school supplies (up to $50). |
| Montana | No tax holiday. | Montana does not have a state sales tax. |
| Nebraska | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Nevada | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a tax holiday for school-related purchases. |
| New Hampshire | No tax holiday. | New Hampshire does not have a state sales tax. |
| New Jersey | No tax holiday. | The tax holiday was repealed in 2024. |
| New Mexico | August 2-4, 2024 | Clothing, diapers and footwear (up to $100 per item), computers (up to $1,000) and related hardware (up to $500) and school supplies (up to $30). |
| New York | No tax holiday. | Clothing and footwear under $110 are exempt from New York state sales tax. Certain municipalities and counties also have their own exemptions and tax holidays. |
| North Carolina | No tax holiday. | The statewide sales tax holiday was repealed in 2014. |
| North Dakota | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Ohio | July 30-August 8, 2024 | All personal property that is $500 or less. |
| Oklahoma | August 2-4, 2024 | Select clothing and footwear (up to $100 per item). |
| Oregon | No tax holiday. | Oregon does not have a state sales tax. |
| Pennsylvania | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. Items such as clothing, textbooks and select computer services are always sales tax exempt in Pennsylvania. |
| Rhode Island | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| South Carolina | August 2-4, 2024 | Clothing, accessories, footwear, computers, software, printers, school supplies, diapers and certain bed and bath supplies. |
| South Dakota | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. Beginning July 1, 2023, overall sales tax in the state was temporarily reduced from 4.5% to 4.2%. The resolution lasts until 2027. |
| Tennessee | July 26-28, 2024 | Clothing and footwear (up to $100 per item), school and art supplies (up to $100 per item) and personal computers and tablets (up to $1,500). |
| Texas | August 9-11, 2024 | Clothing, footwear, cloth or disposable face masks, diapers, backpacks and school supplies (up to $100 per item). |
| Utah | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| Vermont | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. Certain necessities, like clothing and athletic equipment, are always sales tax exempt. |
| Virginia | August 2-4, 2024 | Qualifying school supplies (up to $20) and clothing and footwear (up to $100). |
| Washington | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
| West Virginia | August 2-5, 2024 | Clothing and diapers (up to $125 per item), school supplies (up to $50 per item), sports equipment (up to $150), instructional materials (up to $20 per item) and computers and tablets (up to $500). |
| Wisconsin | No tax holiday. | The state discontinued sales tax holidays in 2019. |
| Wyoming | No tax holiday. | The state does not have a designated tax-free period. |
Do online retailers participate in tax-free weekends?
Yes, many online stores acknowledge sales tax holidays in individual states, including the following major national retailers:
Each state is able to dictate the rules and guidelines regarding tax-free periods. Before you shop, it’s a good idea to review your state’s rules for sales tax holidays using the links above. Additionally, check with preferred retailers to see if any special exclusions or restrictions apply.
