Going back to school this year is looking different for all of us. While some of you are opting to send your kids to school partially or fully, other parents are deciding to keep their kids at home for distance learning or homeschooling. No matter what your decision is regarding your child’s education, they will need supplies and other items for back to school.
Every year, I’ve shared a list of sales tax holiday dates by state, and this year is no exception. Preparing for back to school and all that it entails can be pretty pricey, so this list will come in handy for those of you who are looking to take advantage of the tax free weekend.
Sales Tax Free holidays occur in many states, often around Back to School time to help parents with the cost of BTS shopping. In most instances, it takes place over a weekend or two to three day time span. You can purchase items like clothing, school supplies, and some tech like computers and laptops without paying sales tax. This can really help when purchasing big ticket items (and if you don’t have a child, you can still get the discount on these items).
Please check out my list of 2020 Sales Tax Holidays by State, as it gives you the dates in your state, what is covered, and more. In some states, this includes things for your home as well.
States like California, New York, Illinois, and Georgia currently do not have Sales Tax Holidays.
The dollar amounts are “up-to” amounts, meaning that if what you purchase at one time is higher than the maximum cost, you will pay tax on it.
| | Days | | | 1stYear | Dates | |
| Alabama | 3 | hurricane preparedness generators – $1,000 supplies – $60 | 2012 | February 21-23 | http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/ | |
| Alabama | 3 | clothing – $100 computers – $750 school supplies – $50 books – $30 | 2006 | July 17-19 | http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/ | |
| Arkansas | 2 | clothing – $100 school supplies | 2011 | August 1-2 | http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/ | |
| Connecticut | 7 | clothing and footwear – $100 | 2001 | August 16-22 | http://www.ct.gov/drs/ | |
| Florida | 6 | disaster preparedness generators – $750 other supplies – $50 | 2017+ | May 29-June 4 | http://floridarevenue.com/ | |
| Florida | 3 | clothing – $60 school supplies – $15 computers – $1,000 | 2007+ | August 7-9 | http://floridarevenue.com/ | |
| Iowa | 2 | clothing – $100 | 2000 | August 7-8 | https://tax.iowa.gov/ | |
| Maryland | 3 | energy star products | 2011 | February 15-17 | https://www.marylandtaxes.gov/ | |
| Maryland | 7 | clothing & footwear-$100 | 2010 | August 9-15 | http://www.marylandtaxes.com/ | |
| Massachusetts | 2 | all TPP – $2,500 | 2004+ | August 29-30 | https://www.mass.gov/ | |
| Mississippi | 2 | clothing & footwear – $100 | 2009 | July 31-Aug 1 | http://www.dor.ms.gov/ | |
| Mississippi | 3 | firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies | 2014 | Sept. 4-6 | http://www.dor.ms.gov/ | |
| Missouri | 7 | energy star products – $1,500 | 2009 | April 19-25 | http://dor.mo.gov/ | |
| Missouri | 3 | clothing – $100 computers – $1,500 school supplies – $50 | 2004 | August 7-9 | http://dor.mo.gov/ | |
| New Mexico | 3 | clothing – $100 computers – $1,000 computer equip. – $500 school supplies – $30 | 2005 | August 7-9 | http://www.tax.newmexico.gov | |
| Ohio | 3 | clothing – $75 school supplies – $20 | 2015 | August 7-9 | https://www.tax.ohio.gov/ | |
| Oklahoma | 3 | clothing – $100 | 2007 | August 7-9 | http://www.tax.ok.gov/ | |
| South Carolina | 3 | clothing school supplies computers other | 2000 | August 7-9 | http://dor.sc.gov/ | |
| Tennessee | 3 | clothing – $200 school supplies – $200 computers – $3,000 | 2006 | July 31-Aug. 2 | http://tn.gov/revenue/ | |
| Tennessee | 3 | Restaurants | 2020 | August 7-9 | http://tn.gov/revenue/ | |
| Texas | 3 | generators – $3,000 storm devices – $300 preparedness items – $75 | 2016 | April 25-27 | http://comptroller.texas.gov | |
| Texas | 3 | energy star products air conditioners – $6,000; other – $2,000 | 2008 | May 23-25 | http://comptroller.texas.gov/ | |
| Texas | 3 | clothing, backpacks and school supplies- $100 | 1999 | August 7-9 | http://comptroller.texas.gov/ | |
| Virginia | 3 | clothing – $100 school supplies – $20 energy star products – $2,500 hurricane preparedness items – $60 generators – $1,000 | 2006 | August 7-9 | http://www.tax.virginia.gov/ | |
Despite a possible rocky start to the school year thanks to Covid-19, I hope that this will be an amazing school year for us all.
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