The tax-exempt shopping periods for Summer 2025's back-to-school season have commenced.
This year, back-to-school shopping has already started, and many states are offering tax holidays to help families save on essential items. Here's a breakdown of the participating states and their tax-free periods in August.
States with Tax Holidays in August 2025
- Missouri: August 1–3, 2025. Exemptions include clothing priced at $100 or less, school supplies up to $50 per purchase, computer software up to $350, personal computers or devices up to $1,500, and graphing calculators up to $150.
- Florida: August 1–31, 2025. Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday lasts the entire month of August.
- Oklahoma: August 1–3, 2025.
- South Carolina: August 1–3, 2025.
- Virginia: August 1–3, 2025.
- West Virginia: August 1–4, 2025.
- Ohio: August 1–8, 2025.
- Texas: August 8–10, 2025.
- Maryland: August 10–16, 2025.
- Massachusetts: August 9–10, 2025.
- Connecticut: August 17–23, 2025.
General Qualifying Items
Typical qualifying items in these holidays include clothing, school supplies, computers, and related technology, with specific price limits varying by state. Accessories like jewelry, watches, and sports equipment are usually excluded. Local taxes are typically waived along with state taxes during the holidays in these states.
Unique Features
Florida's month-long holiday and permanent exemptions for certain disaster preparedness and outdoor items like batteries, fire extinguishers, portable generators, sunscreen, insect repellent, and life jackets make it a unique feature for 2025 among participating states.
Missouri's detailed list highlights specific caps and included/excluded items, representing a model for many states. For example, clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $50, computers/software up to defined price limits, and exclusions of accessories, sporting goods, and electronics like radios or headphones.
Other States
Mississippi, Alabama, and the District of Columbia also have tax holidays in 2025. Arkansas's tax holiday allows shoppers to purchase certain electronics, school supplies, and clothing tax-free. Iowa offers a tax exemption on items valued under $100, and Tennessee's tax holiday offers savings on computers priced under $1,500.
Shoppers should check their state's specific sales tax holiday dates and qualifying items to stay ahead of potential price increases. Online orders also qualify for sales tax holidays if paid during the tax holiday period and shipped to a state address.
This year, over a dozen states are offering sales tax holidays this summer, making it an opportunity for shoppers not to miss. Major retailers like Walmart provide guides to help shoppers find tax breaks during the tax holiday in participating states. Kiplinger will provide details on each back-to-school holiday closer to the start of each offering.
President Donald Trump's tariffs are set to take effect in early August, which may lead to price hikes. However, shopping during these tax-free holidays can help offset these potential increases.
In Missouri, the tax holiday happens from August 1–3, 2025, with exemptions for clothing under $100, school supplies priced up to $50 per purchase, computers or devices up to $1,500, and personal finance savings can be made through the tax-free period on these items.
The unique feature of Florida's tax holiday is that it lasts the entire month of August, providing a longer window for personal-finance management and lifestyle savings, as well as permanent exemptions for certain disaster preparedness and outdoor items like batteries, sunscreen, and life jackets.
