Back to school shopping tips for parents
Use these technical tips to conquer returning to school and shopping.
The problem has been resolved, USA Today
While kids aren’t ready to hear about going back to school, many state sales tax holidays can help parents save shopping back to school.
That’s especially important this year, as shoppers say there’s more emphasis on tariffs and economic uncertainty.
In July and August, 17 states take sales tax leave.
Most tax-free shopping days give you a sales tax break for school-related items, such as clothing, shoes, electronics, and supplies. Two states, Ohio and Massachusetts, can extend their sales tax holidays to include more items than schools.
The first state to have a sales tax leave is Mississippi, which will hold a tax-free weekend from July 11th to July 13th.
Shopping back to school has already begun
Early birdback two school shopping has already begun. This year, 26% of school and university shoppers had already begun viewing and purchasing items by early June, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. This is up from 22% last year to 17% in 2019.
Shoppers often like to buy early to broaden their budgets and get early deals and promotions.
However, three-quarters of those surveyed this year, or 74%, said they were shopping earlier this year, as they feared that tariffs could rise in prices later this season.
Sales tax holidays help consumers save more, Catherine Cullen, vice president of industry and consumer insights at the National Retail Federation, told USA Today.
“Customers and retailers alike enjoy the benefits of sales tax leave,” she said. “These tax-free events help drive customers to stores and increase sales as they may purchase additional items that customers have not been shopping for that day.”
Shoppers worry about inflation and tariffs
According to the NRF, the average K-12 shopper budgeted an average of $875 last year, while those who buy for college students were expected to spend $1,365. According to the NRF survey, 76% of shoppers expect a higher price tag for what they need this year.
A return to school survey by Deloitte estimates that spending on K-12 hopping remains stable at $30.9 billion or about $570 per student. That’s down $16 from last year. But while the overall spending figures remain stable, low-income parents (people making under $50,000) say they plan to spend more than 10% this year.
Another study by CoreSight Research said 68% of shoppers limit the amount they spend on shopping where inflation has returned, while 73% of shoppers expect prices to rise and 64.9% expect product shortages.
“Back to school 2025 is shaped by measured optimism. While consumers are willing to spend more money, economic pressures such as inflation and tariffs are driving them to seek value more aggressively,” Coresight Research analyst Madhav Pitaliya told USA Today.
Does my state have school supply sales tax leave?
According to a report by USA Today with the Federation of Tax Managers, what is the list of states participating and what is the tax exemption? Rules and dates vary by state, so check the state website for the most updated information. In some cases, local taxes may still apply.
If the dollar amount is not listed, the state does not appear to indicate a expenditure limit for that item. Links to most state holiday details are hyperlinked to the names of each state. Generally, most online purchases are also eligible for sale tax leave, but please check the state requirements.
Fives should not charge sales tax year-round: Alaska, Montana, Delaware, Oregon, New Hampshire, according to the Tax Foundation. Some Alaska municipalities are charging sales tax.
July 18th-20th
What is tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: under $100 per item
Computer: Under $750 per item
School supplies: under $50 per item
Book: Under $30 per item
August 2nd-3rd
What is tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: under $100 per item, Clothing accessories: under $50 per item
School supplies
Electronic devices used in schools
Connecticut
August 17th-23rd (always from the third Sunday to the next Saturday of August)
What is tax-free:
Clothing and footwear is less than $100
Florida expanded its return to school sales tax holidays to include the entire month of August.
August 1st – 31st
What is tax-free:
School supplies: under $50 per item
Clothing, Footwear, Accessories: Under $100 per item
Computers and Related Accessories: Under $1,500
Learning AIDS and Jigsaw Puzzles: Under $30
August 1st-2nd
What is tax-free:
Clothing or Footwear: 100 or less per item
Maryland
August 10th-16th (always the second week of August)
What is tax-free:
Clothing, Footwear, Accessories: Under $100 per item
Backpack: The first $40 for purchasing a backpack/book bag is tax-free.
August 9th-10th
Qualified retail items purchased for personal use under $2,500 (not limited to school supplies). There are a few exceptions if taxes still apply, such as meals, cars and boats, gas and electricity, cigarettes, marijuana or alcoholic beverages, and a single item priced above $2,500.
July 11th-13th
What is tax-free:
Clothing and Footwear: Under $100 per item
School supplies: Under $100 per item
Missouri
August 1st-3rd
What is tax-free:
Clothing: Under $100 per item
School supplies: under $50 per item
Computer: $1,500
Computer Software: Under $350
Computer Peripherals: $1,500
Graphic calculator: under $150
July 25th-27th
What is tax-free:
Clothing or Shoes: Under $100 per item
Desktop, laptop, tablet or notebook computer: $1,000
Related Computer Hardware: $500 per item
School supplies: $30 per item
Although New York does not have sales tax holidays, sales tax for human-worn clothing and footwear is less than $110 throughout the year in certain counties, including those covered by New York City.
August 1st-14th
What is tax-free:
Ohio Sales Tax Holidays are not limited to school-related equipment. Tax-free periods include those that are considered tangible personal property of less than $500, except those with a vessel motor, excluding products containing vessels, vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, steam products, and marijuana. Usually, taxable meals are also tax-free if they are under $500.
August 1st-3rd
What is tax-free:
Clothing or Footwear: Under $100 per item.
Pennsylvania does not have sales tax holidays, but does not charge sales tax on clothing or certain footwear year-round.
August 1st-3rd
What is tax-free:
Clothing, shoes, accessories
School supplies
Computers, printers, earphones, headphones
Specific beds and bath items
Diapers
July 25th-27th
What is tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: under $100 per item
School supplies: Under $100 per item
Computers including laptops and tablets: under $1,500 per item
August 8th-10th
What is tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: under $100 per item
Backpack: Under $100 per item
School supplies: Under $100 per item
August 1st-3rd
What is tax-free:
Clothing and shoes: under $100 per item
School supplies: Under $20 per item
August 1st-4th
What is tax-free:
Clothing: Under $125 per item
Laptop or tablet computer: under $500 per item
School Teaching Materials: Under $20 per item
School supplies: under $50 per item
Sports Goods: Under $150 per item
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA Today. Contact her at blinfisher @usatoday.com or follow her on X, Facebook, or Instagram @Blinfisher, @Blinfisher.bsky.social.. Sign up for our free daily money newsletter. This includes Friday’s Consumer News.
