Back-to-school tax holidays: Tax-free shopping comes to 16 states this summer. Here's who is giving a tax break
Students might not go back to school in person this fall, but back-to-school sales tax holidays are still happening.
Sixteen states will hold sales tax holidays to help families get ready for the upcoming school year. The savings, which are usually on clothes and school supplies, are open to all.
Many school districts across the nation are still working on plans for the school year. Los Angeles and San Diego districts announced they will start the year online because of the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus causes the disease COVID-19.
Alabama's three-day holiday is first, kicking off Friday. Mississippi and Tennessee will start their annual holidays July 31. Thirteen other states offer tax-free shopping in stores and online in August, most on the first weekend of the month.
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Tennessee, which includes smartphones, televisions and video game consoles in its three-day tax holiday, doubled the price thresholds this year. It has a second sales tax holiday for food and drink sales at restaurants in August.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense economic strain on Tennessee families," Gov. Bill Lee said in a news release. "These sales tax holidays will allow them to keep more of their hard-earned money and support Tennessee businesses."
Five states – Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon – don't have a sales tax, according to the Tax Foundation. Most clothing also is tax-free year-round in states including Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
Tax holidays 2020
Not every town and county will participate in the sales tax holidays, nor will every item be tax-free. Online shopping also is exempt from tax during the days. For some states, local taxes still apply.
Alabama sales tax weekend
Dates: July 17-19
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and footwear: $100 or less
Technology: Single purchases $750 or less of computers, computer software and school computer supplies
School supplies: $50 or less
Books: $30 or less
Full list: www.revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/sales-tax-holidays
Arkansas sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 1-2
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and footwear: Less than $100
Clothing accessories or equipment: Less than $50
Select school supplies, school art supplies and instructional materials: No limit
Full list: www.dfa.arkansas.gov
Connecticut tax-free week
Dates: Aug. 16-22
What’s tax-free: Clothing and footwear, less than $100
Full list: www.ct.gov/DRS
Florida sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 7-9
What's tax free:
Clothing, footwear and accessories: $60 or less
School supplies: $15 or less
Computers and accessories: $1,000 or less per item
Full list: www.floridarevenue.com/backtoschool
Iowa sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 7-8
What’s tax-free: Clothing and footwear, less than $100
Full list: https://tax.iowa.gov/iowas-annual-sales-tax-holiday
Maryland tax-free week
Dates: Aug. 9-15
What's tax-free:
Clothing and footwear: $100 or less
Backpacks: The first $40 is tax-exempt
Full list: www.marylandtaxes.gov
Massachusetts sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 29-30
What’s tax-free: Almost everything that costs up to $2,500. In Massachusetts, there is no sales tax on clothes less than $175 year round.
More information: www.mass.gov
Mississippi sales tax holiday
Dates: July 31-Aug. 1
What's tax-free: Clothing, footwear and school supplies, less than $100 per item
Full list: www.dor.ms.gov
Mississippi's sales tax holiday 2020: What you need to know
Missouri sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 7-9
What’s tax-free:
Clothing: Up to $100
School supplies: Not to exceed $50 per purchase
Personal computers: Up to $1,500
Computer software: Up to $350
Graphing calculators: Up to $150
Full list: https://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/taxholiday/school/
New Mexico tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 7-9
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and footwear: Less than $100
Computers: $1,000 or less
Computer-related items: Up to $500
School supplies: Less than $30
Full list: www.tax.newmexico.gov
Ohio sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 7-9
What’s tax-free:
Clothing: $75 or less
School supplies and instructional materials: $20 or less
Full list: https://tax.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/tax/home/news/sales-tax-holiday
Oklahoma sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 7-9
What’s tax-free: Clothing and footwear, less than $100
Full list: www.ok.gov/tax
South Carolina sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 7-9
What’s tax-free:
Clothing: No limit
School supplies: No limit
Computers, computer parts and accessories, printers, ink: No limit
Books and musical instruments: Tax-free if “used for school assignments.”
Bed and bath: No limit, includes blankets, bed spreads, bed linens, towels, etc.
Full list: www.dor.sc.gov/taxfreeweekend
Tennessee sales tax holiday
Dates: July 31-Aug. 2
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: $200 or less
School supplies: $200 or less
Computers, tablets, smartphones, televisions, video game consoles: $3,000 or less
Full list: www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/sales-and-use-tax/sales-tax-holiday.html
Texas sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 7-9
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and footwear: Less than $100
School supplies and backpacks: Less than $100
Full list: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-490/
Virginia sales tax holiday
Dates: Aug. 7-9
What’s tax-free:
Clothing and footwear: $100 or less
School supplies: $20 or less
Hurricane and emergency preparedness products: Portable generators up to $1,000; gas-powered chainsaws $350 or less; other specified hurricane preparedness items, $60 or less per item.
Energy Star and WaterSense products: $2,500 or less per item
Full list: www.tax.virginia.gov/virginia-sales-tax-holiday
Contributing: Mary Hance, Nashville Tennessean
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sales tax holidays 2020: States with back-to-school tax-free shopping
