Psst! We know the kids don’t want to hear “Back to School” talk, but sales tax holidays in some states can help parents and caretakers save money on school supplies.

Some states even expand it further and offer tax-free shopping on a variety of items where shoppers of all ages can save.

Saving money is particularly important this year as shoppers continue to say they are stressed about finances and rising costs.

In July and August, there are 18 states that have specific sales-tax holidays, when certain purchases made for school are tax-free. The first state is Mississippi, July 10 through July 12, and tax holidays continue through August. Connecticut is the last state with a tax holiday from Aug. 16 through Aug. 22.

What Are Sales Tax Holidays?

Most of the tax-free shopping days give a break on sales tax for items related to school like clothing, shoes, electronics and supplies. One state, Massachusetts, extends the sales-tax holiday to include more than back-to-school items. But there are some changes from previous years.

Ohio is reverting to a three-day sales-tax holiday instead of a 14-day tax holiday that in 2025 included nearly all tangible property costing $500 or less. Virginia’s sales tax holiday also includes items for hurricane and emergency preparation. New Jersey permanently repealed its sales tax holiday.

And this year, Illinois is bringing back a school-supply state sales tax holiday for the first time in 10 years.

USA TODAY has compiled a full list of participating states, details of what is tax-free and a snapshot of how shoppers are feeling.

Back-to-School Shopping Has Already Begun

More shoppers began their back-to-school shopping by early June than in past years, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). About one-third or 32% of back-to-school shoppers said they had already started browsing and buying by early June, the highest percentage since the NRF first started asking the question in 2018. In 2025, 26% of shoppers said they started shopping in June.

According to NRF’s annual June survey, all age groups said they had begun the early shopping, but younger generations were leading the trend. Gen Z (40%) and Millennial (42%) shoppers were the biggest groups to shop early, and had the largest jump year over year. In 2025, 31% of both Gen Z and Millennial shoppers were shopping early in June.

Only 27% of Gen X shoppers and 20% of Baby Boomers said they had started their back-to-school shopping in June, compared to 24% and 18% in 2025.

Consumers may be more prepared to do their back-to-school shopping, the NRF said, because 44% said they had already received their school-supply lists as of early June. That compares with 38% who said the same in 2025.

Sales Tax Holidays Help Shoppers’ Wallets

Data from PwC, a professional services firm, shows families are expecting to spend nearly $922 during the back-to-school season and nearly half plan to spend more than they did last year.

“Back-to-school spending is about commitment, not discretion,” Kelly Pedersen, PwC’s global retail leader, told USA TODAY. “Parents aren’t looking for a reason to skip the list; they’re looking for ways to absorb a bill they know is coming.”

That’s exactly where tax holidays fit in, said Pedersen.

“Tax-free weekends are exactly the kind of date a budget-conscious parent has already circled. It’s not about spending less. It’s about being smart with a commitment that doesn’t go away,” he said.

Clothing and shoes are the largest line item in the PwC survey at $278.

“Clothing and shoes have historically been the categories that have benefited most during tax holiday windows, and those are precisely the categories families are prioritizing most,” Pedersen said.

What’s different this season is just how deliberately parents are hunting for those windows, Pedersen said: 54% of families in the survey cited sales and promotions as a top purchase factor. Seventy-three percent are using AI somewhere in their shopping journey, often specifically to compare prices and time purchases.

The spending also doesn’t stop when school starts, Pedersen said. Families expect to spend another $635 every month after that on fees, meals, activity costs.

“Back-to-school isn’t a seasonal event; it’s the opening of a year-round financial relationship. The families doing it best are the ones showing up with a plan,” he said.

Rising Prices Are Still a Top Concern for Shoppers

But high costs continue to worry shoppers.

“Prices are still top of mind, though consumers remain more optimistic than they were four years ago when inflation was at its peak,” the NRF said in a back-to-school blog post on its website posted on July 7. “This year 78% of shoppers expect to see higher prices on back-to-school items this school season, compared with 84% in 2022.”

But there’s a difference in how households in different income brackets are viewing prices, the NRF said. Those earning more than $100,000 “have seen a steeper drop in concern since 2022’s higher inflation and continue to drive spending,” the NRF said. “Lower-income households, while less concerned than four years ago, remain worried about prices and are looking for ways to stretch their dollars.”

Retailers are taking note and will have sale promotions all summer, the retail group said. About one-third of back-to-school shoppers told the NRF they typically plan their shopping around summer sales. Families also told the group for its survey that if back-to-school items are pricier than expected, they will be doing more comparative shopping or checking for the items at discount stores.

Does My State Have a School Supply Sales Tax Holiday?

Here’s a list of participating states and what’s tax free, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators, and additional reporting by USA TODAY. Rules and dates vary by state so check the state’s website for the most updated information. In some instances, local taxes may also still apply.

If a dollar amount is not listed, the state does not appear to indicate a spending limit on that item. Generally, most purchases online also qualify for the sales-tax holiday, but check your state’s requirements.

Five states don’t charge sales tax year-round: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. However, some municipalities in Alaska do charge sales tax.

Alabama Sales Tax Holiday

Alabama for 2026 has increased the price limit of tax-free items. July 17-19.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing and shoes: $156 or less per item
• Computers: $1,173 or less per item
• School supplies: $78 or less per item
• Books: $47 or less per item

Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday

Aug 1-2.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item, clothing accessories: $50 or less per item
• School, art and instructional supplies and electronic devices used for school are tax-free with no cap on price

Connecticut Sales Tax Holiday

Aug. 16-22 (always the third Sunday in August to the following Saturday).

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing and footwear less than $300 (up from $100); cleated shoes and backpacks are newly added as tax-free
• A new Connecticut state law, which started on July 1, exempts non-electronic school supplies from sales tax year-round

Florida Sales Tax Holiday

Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday is a month long, but this year, it starts two weeks earlier. July 20-Aug. 20.

What’s tax-free:

• Learning aids, such as flash cards and puzzle books, and puzzles: $30 or less
• School supplies: $50 or less per item
• Clothing, footwear, accessories: $100 or less per item
• Computers and related accessories: $1,500 or less

Illinois Sales Tax Holiday

This is the first school sales tax holiday for Illinois in 10 years. Aug. 7-16.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing and footwear: $125 and less
• Eligible school supplies including book bags, calculators, and other items used by students for studying are not subject to the $125 threshold

Iowa Sales Tax Holiday

Aug. 7-8 (first Friday and Saturday of August).

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing or footwear: $100 or less per item

Maryland Sales Tax Holiday

Aug. 9-15 (always the second Sunday of August to the following Saturday).

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing and footwear: $100 or less per item
• Backpacks: the first $40 of a backpack/book bag purchase is tax-free
• Accessory items, except for backpacks, are not included in the tax-free holiday

Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday

Aug. 8-9.

• Eligible retail items bought for personal use costing $2,500 or less (not limited to school supplies)
• There are several exceptions when tax still applies, including: meals, motor vehicles and boats, gas and electricity, tobacco, marijuana or alcoholic beverages and any single item with a price more than $2,500

Mississippi Sales Tax Holiday

July 10-12.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing and footwear: $100 or less per item
• School supplies: $100 or less per item

Missouri Sales Tax Holiday

Aug. 7-9.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing: $100 or less per item
• School supplies: $50 or less per item
• Computers and peripheral devices: $1,500
• Computer software: $350 or less
• Graphic calculators: $150 or less

New Mexico Sales Tax Holiday

According to the Federation of Tax Administrators, the sales tax deduction is elective and not mandatory. July 31-Aug. 2.

What’s tax-free:

• School supplies: $30 and less per item
• Clothing or shoes: $100 or less per item
• Desktop, laptop, tablets or notebook computers: $1,000
• Related computer hardware: $500 per item

New York Sales Tax Holiday

• New York does not have a sales tax holiday, but year-round in certain counties, including the county that covers New York City, there is no sales tax for clothing and footwear that is $110 or less

Ohio Sales Tax Holiday

Ohio in 2026 is reverting to a three-day sales-tax holiday instead of a 14-day tax holiday that previously included nearly all tangible property $500 or less. Aug. 7-9.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing: $75 or less per item
• School supplies: $20 or less per item
• School instructional materials: $20 or less per item

Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday

Aug. 7-9 (first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of August).

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing or footwear: $100 or less per item

Pennsylvania Sales Tax Holiday

• Pennsylvania does not have a sales-tax holiday, but year-round it does not charge sales tax for clothing and certain footwear

South Carolina Sales Tax Holiday

South Carolina does not set a price limit on the tax-free eligible items and also includes some non school-related items. Aug. 7-9.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing, shoes and accessories
• School supplies
• Computers, printers, earbuds and headphones
• Certain bed and bath items

Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday

July 31-Aug. 2.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item
• School supplies: $100 or less per item
• Computers, including laptops and tablets: $1,500 or less per item

Texas Sales Tax Holiday

Aug. 7-9.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item
• Backpacks: $100 or less per item
• School supplies: $100 or less per item

Virginia Sales Tax Holiday

Virginia’s sales tax holiday also includes hurricane and emergency preparation items and Energy Star/Water Sense items. Aug. 7-9.

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item
• School supplies: $20 or less per item
• Portable generator: $1,000 or less per item
• Gas-powered chainsaws: $350 or less per item
• Chainsaw accessories: $60 or less per item
• Other specified hurricane preparedness items: $60 or less per item
• Qualifying Energy Star and WaterSense products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use: $2,500 or less per item

West Virginia Sales Tax Holiday

July 31-Aug. 3 (Friday before first Sunday in August through the following Monday).

What’s tax-free:

• Clothing: $125 or less per item
• Laptop or tablet computers: $500 or less per item
• School instruction material: $20 or less per item
• School supplies: $50 or less per item
• Sports equipment: $150 or less per item