If you haven’t gotten around to going back-to-school shopping yet, you may want to get started this weekend, especially if you live in Georgia, Missouri, or Tennessee.
That’s when those three states will hold their annual sales tax holidays allowing consumers to stock up on clothing, school supplies, or both without paying sales taxes above a certain threshold. Of the 45 states that collect sales tax, 17 have a sales tax holiday for back-to-school purchases (a handful have separate holidays for things like Energy Star appliances or hunting supplies).
Most states have limits on how much you can purchase without paying taxes, but some of them are pretty generous. Louisiana, for example, knocks its 5 percent sales tax down to just 2 percent on up to $2,500 per item purchased, while Mississippi and Tennessee have lower limits but will forgive their 7 percent sales tax. South Carolina does not place a limit on eligible purchases.
With the average family planning on spending more than $900 per kid on back-to-school shopping this year, those savings could really add up. Even with the sales tax savings, it’s easy to go over-budget on back-to-school shopping, so head to the stores with a list and don’t feel pressured to buy every item on it right away. After school starts, you might find discounts that are worth more than what you’d save without the sales tax.
State by State
The holidays typically last for two to three days; Maryland lifts its 6 percent sales tax for a full week in August. Read on for info about the sales tax holidays in each state, and click through for more details from each state’s department of revenue.
In most cases, online purchases qualify for the exemption, as long as you order and pay for the item during the designated period. You might still have to pay local sales tax on purchases during the sales tax holiday.
More From Consumer Reports
Alabama: August 5-7
Alabama’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item, computers and computer supplies up to $750, and school supplies up to $50.
Arkansas: August 6-7
Arkansas’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item, accessories and equipment up to $50, and school supplies.
Connecticut: August 25- 27
Connecticut’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item.
Florida: August 5-7
Florida’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $60 per item and some school supplies up to $15.
Georgia: July 30-31
Georgia’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item, computers and software up to $1,000, and school supplies up to $20.
Iowa: August 5-6
Iowa’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item.
Louisiana: August 5-6
Louisiana’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes almost all items of tangible, personal property up to $2,500 per item.
Maryland: August 14-20
Maryland’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item.
Mississippi: July 29-30
Mississippi’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item.
Missouri: August 5-7
Missouri’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item, school supplies up to $50, computer software up to $350, computers and computer accessories up to $1,500, and graphing calculators up to $150.
New Mexico: August 5-7
New Mexico’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100, computers up to $1,000, computer hardware up to $500, and school supplies up to $30.
Ohio: August 5-7
Ohio’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $75 per item, school supplies up to $20, and school instructional materials up to $20.
Oklahoma: August 5-7
Oklahoma’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item.
South Carolina: August 5-7
South Carolina’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing, school supplies, computers, and linens.
Tennessee: July 29-31
Tennessee’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing up to $100 per item, school supplies up to $100, and computers up to $1,500.
Texas: August 5-7
Texas’ 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying clothing and school supplies up to $100 per item.
Virginia: August 5-7
Virginia’s 2016 sales tax holiday includes qualifying school supplies up to $20 per item and clothing up to $100.
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