If you’ve got school-age children, you know it’s no small expense to get them ready for class with supplies, clothing, and other necessities.
Fortunately, 17 states will offer tax-free holidays this year just in time for back-to-school shopping.
Here’s a look at which states are doing it and what the limits are.
RELATED: Price-matching policies: What Walmart, Target, others will do if you find a better deal
Which states offer back-to-school sales tax holidays in 2018?
If your state does have a tax-free weekend coming up, we’ve got the details below thanks to TaxJar.com.
Reminder: The dollar value limits are usually for individual items, not the total purchase.
Alabama (4.0% tax)
‘ Clothing ($100)
‘ Computers ($750)
‘ School Supplies ($50)
‘ Books ($30)
Dates: 7/20 ‘ 7/22
Read more: Alabama’s sales tax holiday
Arkansas (6.50% tax)
‘ Clothing ($100)
‘ School Supplies ($50)
‘ Clothing Accessory or Equipment ($50)
Dates: 8/4 ‘ 8/5
Read more: Arkansas’ sales tax holiday
Connecticut (6.35% tax)
‘ Clothing and Footwear* ($300)
* Excludes athletic or protective clothing or footwear, jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches and “similar items”
Dates: 8/19 ‘ 8/25
Read more: Connecticut’s sales tax holiday
Florida (6.0% tax)
‘ School Supplies ($15)
‘ Clothing and Footwear ($60)
Dates: 8/3 ‘ 8/5
Read more: Florida’s sales tax holiday
Iowa (6.0% tax)
‘ Clothing and Footwear ($100)
Dates: 8/3 ‘ 8/4
Read more: Iowa’s sales tax holiday
Louisiana* (5.0% tax)
‘ Tangible Personal Property ($2,500)
Dates: 8/3 ‘ 8/4
*Louisiana’s sales tax is reduced from 5% to 3% during this period.
Read more: Louisiana’s sales tax holiday
Maryland (6.0% tax)
‘ Clothing & Footwear ($100)
‘ Backpack or bookbag ($40)
Dates: 8/12 ‘ 8/18
Read more: Maryland’s sales tax holiday
Mississippi (7.0% tax)
‘ Clothing & Footwear ($100)
Dates: 7/28 ‘ 7/28
Read more: Mississippi’s sales tax holiday
Missouri (4.225% tax)
‘ Clothing ($100)
‘ Computers ($1,500), software ($350), peripheral devices ($1,500)
‘ School Supplies ($50)
Dates: 8/3 ‘ 8/5
Read more: Missouri’s sales tax holiday
New Mexico (5.125% tax)
‘ Clothing and footwear ($100)
‘ Computers ($1,000)
‘ Computer Equipment ($500)
‘ School Supplies ($30)
Dates: 8/3 ‘ 8/5
Read more: New Mexico’s sales tax holiday
Ohio (5.75% tax)
‘ Clothing ($75)
‘ School Supplies ($20)
‘ School Instruction Material ($20)
Dates: 8/3 ‘ 8/5
Read more: Ohio’s sales tax holiday
Oklahoma (4.50% tax)
‘ Clothing ($100)
Dates: 8/3 ‘ 8/5
Read more: Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday
South Carolina (6.0% tax)
‘ Clothing (no limit)
‘ School Supplies (no limit)
‘ Computers (no limit)
‘ Other (no limit)
Dates: 8/3 ‘ 8/5
Read more: South Carolina’s sales tax holiday
Tennessee (7.0% tax)
‘ Clothing ($100)
‘ School Supplies ($100)
‘ Computers ($1,500)
Dates: 7/27 ‘ 7/29
Read more: Tennessee’s sales tax holiday
Texas (6.25% tax)
‘ Clothing, Backpacks and School Supplies ($100)
Dates: 8/10 – 8/12
Read more: Texas’ sales tax holiday
Virginia (5.30% tax)
‘ Clothing ($100)
‘ School Supplies ($20)
Dates: 8/3 ‘ 8/5
Read more: Virginia’s sales tax holiday
Wisconsin (5.0% tax)
‘ Clothing ($75)
‘ School Supplies ($75)
‘ Computers ($750)
‘ Computer Equipment ($250)
Dates: 8/1 ‘ 8/5
Read more: Wisconsin’s sales tax holiday
The following states aren’t offering a sales tax holiday this year. Of course, this list is subject to change:
Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia (Washington D.C.), Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
You’ll note that for the second year in a row, money expert Clark Howard’s home state of Georgia won’t have a tax-free weekend for back-to-school shoppers. Yet the consumer champ isn’t upset about it.
Why? Because Clark says some retailers would plan their ads around the holiday and deliberately raise their prices.
Clark says that if you want to save the most money as you’re getting your kids ready for a return to the classroom, you’ve got to go about it differently. His key advice is don’t be loyal to any one store. Go wherever the deal is. And don’t deviate from your shopping list with unnecessary purchases.
Meanwhile, if you want to know which stores have the best deals this year, we’ve got you covered over at our sister site ClarkDeals.com!
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