Back to School 2026: Sales Tax Holidays & Dates by State
-- reading | Last updated:
Florida (until Aug 20), Maryland (until Aug 15), Illinois (until Aug 16), Connecticut (Aug 16-22).
20 states hold tax holidays in 2026 · 5 states never charge sales tax
The 2026 back-to-school sales tax holidays give families tax-free shopping for clothing, school supplies, and often computers. 20 states hold them this year, mostly in August. Still active this week: Florida (through Aug 20), Maryland (through Aug 15), Illinois (through Aug 16), and Connecticut (Aug 16-22). Five states — Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon — never charge sales tax.
Back-to-school shopping is one of the biggest retail events of the year — and savvy families save hundreds by timing purchases to their state's sales tax holiday. Here's the complete 2026 guide with exact dates and what qualifies.
2026 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays by State
| State | Dates 2026 | What's Tax-Free |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | July 17-19 | Books ($47), clothing ($156), computers ($1,173), school supplies ($78) |
| Arkansas | Aug 1-2 | Clothing (<$100), accessories (<$50), electronics (no cap), supplies |
| Connecticut | Aug 16-22 | Clothing & footwear (<$300) |
| Florida | Jul 20-Aug 20 | Computers ($1,500), clothing ($100), supplies ($50), learning aids ($30) |
| Illinois | Aug 7-16 | Clothing (<$125), supplies (no cap) — rate cut to 1.25% |
| Iowa | Aug 7-8 | Clothing & footwear (<$100) |
| Maryland | Aug 9-15 | Clothing & footwear (<$100), backpacks (first $40) |
| Massachusetts | Aug 8-9 | All retail items (<$2,500 per item) |
| Mississippi | July 10-12 | Clothing (<$100), supplies (<$100) |
| Missouri | Aug 7-9 | Clothing (<$100), supplies (<$50), computers ($1,500), calculators ($150) |
| New Mexico | Jul 31-Aug 2 | Clothing (<$100), computers ($1,000), supplies (<$30) |
| Ohio | Aug 7-9 | Clothing (<$75), supplies (<$20) |
| Oklahoma | Aug 7-9 | Clothing & footwear (<$100) |
| South Carolina | Aug 7-9 | Clothing (no cap), computers (no cap), supplies (no cap) |
| Tennessee | Jul 31-Aug 2 | Clothing (<$100), computers ($1,500), supplies (<$100) |
| Texas | Aug 7-9 | Clothing (<$100), supplies & backpacks (<$100) |
| Virginia | Aug 7-9 | Clothing (<$100), supplies (<$20), energy star items |
| West Virginia | Jul 31-Aug 3 | Clothing (<$125), laptops ($500), supplies (<$50), sports equip ($150) |
Source: Tax Foundation, July 2026. Price caps vary; always check your state's official list.
5 States With No Sales Tax at All
- 🏔️ Alaska
- 🌿 Delaware
- 🏞️ Montana
- ⛰️ New Hampshire
- 🌲 Oregon
Residents of these states never pay state sales tax — no holiday needed.
Shopping Tips for Tax-Free Weekends
- 🛒 Shop early in the weekend — popular items sell out before tax-free weekends begin
- 💻 Check online eligibility — most states apply the exemption to online orders delivered during the holiday
- 🧾 Keep receipts — some states require documentation for returns/exchanges
- 🔍 Verify price caps — an item over the cap is taxed on the full price, not just the excess
- 📅 Plan big-ticket buys — laptops and computers often have their own caps ($1,000-$1,500)
Shop Smart for Back to School
Plan ahead to make the most of your state's tax-free weekend: browse back-to-school supplies on Amazon to compare prices and spot deals before the holiday starts — popular items sell out fast.
