Tax-Exempt Shopping Weekend in Texas, 2025
Texas Announces 2025 Back-to-School Tax-Free Weekend
Get ready for some savings, Texas shoppers! The Comptroller's office has announced the 26th annual sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping will take place from Friday, August 8th to Sunday, August 10th, 2025.
During this three-day event, certain articles of clothing and school supplies will be exempt from the state's 6.25% sales tax rate. Here's what you need to know:
Eligible Items
- Clothes: From non-prescription sunglasses to workout clothes, a wide range of clothing items are included in the tax-free weekend. Each item must cost $100 or less to qualify for the tax exemption.
- School Supplies: School supplies like crayons, scissors, notebooks, paper, and lunch boxes are among the tax-free items. School supply kits are tax-free as long as the value of the tax-exempt items exceeds the value of the taxable items.
- Backpacks: Regular backpacks, book bags, and even some work bags are included in the tax-free weekend. However, there is a limit of 10 qualifying book bags that can be purchased tax-free during the weekend.
- Children's Items: Children's diapers, scout uniforms, and costumes are also tax-free during the weekend.
Ineligible Items
- Computers and Printers: Unfortunately, these items are not included in the tax-free weekend.
- Jewelry, Watches, and Handbags: Items like jewelry, watches, wallets, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, and umbrellas are taxable during the weekend.
- Athletic Gear and Hair Accessories: Athletic gear (including cleated shoes, gloves, helmets, and protective pads) and hair accessories (including clips, bows, barrettes, and headbands) are also taxable during the weekend.
- Sewing Materials: Items used to make or repair clothing, like fabric, thread, yarn, patterns, etc., are taxable during the weekend.
Online Purchases
Online purchases qualify for the tax exemption if the retailer does business in Texas, payment is processed during the tax-free weekend (Aug. 8–10), and the item's price, after shipping, is less than $100.
Limit on Number of Items
There is no indication of a limit on the number of tax-exempt items a shopper can purchase during the weekend.
The Comptroller's office estimates that shoppers will save $133.2 million during the Texas back-to-school tax-free weekend. For detailed lists of specific qualifying and non-qualifying items, Texas shoppers are encouraged to consult the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website.
Happy shopping, Texas!
Personal finance can greatly benefit from the tax-free weekend in Texas, as certain clothing, school supplies, and kids' items will be exempt from sales tax during August 8th-10th, 2025. However, some items like jewelry, wallets, and laptops are still taxable. Budgeting for shopping during this period could lead to significant savings, allowing for a healthier lifestyle and improved personal-finance management.
