Back-to-school shopping tips for parents
Beat back-to-school shopping with these tech tips.
Problem solved, USA TODAY
Damn it! We know kids don’t want to hear about “going back to school,” but sales tax holidays in some states can help parents and guardians save money on school supplies.
Some states are taking it even further, offering tax-free shopping on a variety of products that saves shoppers of all ages.
Saving money is especially important this year as shoppers continue to say they’re stressed about finances and rising costs.
In July and August, 18 states have specific sales tax holidays where certain school purchases are tax-free. The first state is Mississippi, which will have a tax holiday from July 10 to July 12 that will last through August. Connecticut is the last state to observe a tax holiday from August 16th to August 22nd.
What is a sales tax holiday?
On most tax-free shopping days, school-related items such as clothing, shoes, electronics, and supplies are exempt from sales tax. One state, Massachusetts, extends the sales tax holiday on more than just back-to-school items. However, there are some changes compared to last year.
In 2025, Ohio will revert the 14-day sales tax holiday to a 3-day sales tax holiday for nearly all tangible property valued at $500 or less. Virginia’s sales tax holiday also includes hurricane and emergency preparedness. New Jersey has permanently abolished the sales tax holiday.
And this year, Illinois is reinstating the state sales tax holiday for school supplies for the first time in 10 years.
USA TODAY has compiled a complete list of participating countries, tax-free eligibility details and a snapshot of how shoppers are feeling.
Back-to-school shopping has already begun
Back-to-school shopping has already begun.
More shoppers than usual began their back-to-school shopping by early June, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). About a third, or 32%, of back-to-school shoppers said they had already started browsing and purchasing by early June. This is the highest percentage since NRF first began asking the question in 2018. In 2025, 26% of shoppers said they started shopping in June.
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According to NRF’s annual June survey, people of all ages say they started shopping earlier, but younger generations are leading the trend. Gen Z (40%) and Millennial (42%) shoppers are the largest group to shop early and saw the largest year-over-year increase. In 2025, 31% of both Gen Z and Millennial shoppers shopped in early June.
Only 27% of Gen
Consumers may be ready to do their back-to-school shopping, as 44% said they had already received their school supply list as of early June, according to NRF. In 2025, 38% said the same.
Sales tax holiday helps shoppers’ wallets
Data from professional services firm PwC found that families expect to spend nearly $922 during the back-to-school season, with nearly half planning to spend more than last year.
“Back-to-school spending is about commitment, not discretion,” Kelly Pedersen, global retail leader at PwC, told USA TODAY. “Parents aren’t looking for a reason to skip the list; they’re looking for a way to absorb the bills they know are coming.”
Mr Pedersen said that’s exactly what a tax holiday is suitable for.
“A tax-free weekend is exactly the sort of date that budget-conscious parents are already circling around. It’s not about cutting back on spending, it’s about acting wisely with lasting commitments,” he said.
The largest item in PwC’s study was clothing and shoes, at $278.
“Clothing and footwear have historically been the categories that have benefited the most during tax holidays, and are exactly the categories that families prioritize the most,” Pedersen said.
What’s different this season is how intentionally parents are looking for these windows, Pedersen said. 54% of families surveyed cited sales and promotions as the top factor in their purchases. 73% use AI at some point in their shopping journey, often to compare prices and purchase times.
Pedersen said the spending doesn’t stop when school starts. The family then expects to spend an additional $635 each month in fees, meals and activity costs.
“Back to school is not a seasonal event; it is the beginning of a year-long economic relationship. The families that do best come with a plan in place,” he said.
Rising prices remain a top concern for shoppers
But still high costs are making shoppers nervous.
“Price remains a top priority for consumers compared to four years ago when inflation was at its peak,” NRF said in a July 7 back-to-school blog post on its website.
However, according to the NRF, households in different income brackets view prices differently. For those with incomes above $100,000, “concerns have declined more sharply since the rise in inflation in 2022 and continue to drive spending.” NRF said. “While low-income households are less concerned than they were four years ago, they are still concerned about prices and looking for ways to stretch their money.”
Retailers are taking notice and will be running sale promotions throughout the summer, the retail group said. About one-third of back-to-school shoppers told NRF that they typically plan their shopping around the time of summer sales. Families also told the group that if back-to-school items were more expensive than expected, they would do more comparison shopping or check out items at discount stores.
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Does my state have a school supplies sales tax holiday?
Below is a list of participating states and exemptions from the Federation of Tax Administrators, as well as additional reporting from USA TODAY. Rules and dates vary by state, so check your state’s website for the latest information. In some cases, local taxes may still apply.
If no amount is listed, the state does not appear to indicate a spending limit for that item. Links to holiday tax details for most states are hyperlinked to each state’s name. In general, most online purchases are also sales tax exempt, but check your state’s requirements.
Five states do not impose sales tax year-round: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon., According to the Federation of Tax Administrators. However, some municipalities in Alaska charge sales tax.
alabama sales tax holiday
Alabama has increased price limits for duty-free items for 2026.
July 17th-19th
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing and shoes: $156 or less each
- Computers: $1,173 or less per item
- School supplies: $78 or less per item
- Books: $47 or less each
arkansas sales tax holiday
August 1st-2nd
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing and shoes: $100 or less per item; Clothing: $50 or less per item
- School supplies, art supplies, teaching materials, and electronic equipment used in schools are tax-exempt with no price cap.
August 16th to August 22nd (always from the third Sunday in August to the following Saturday)
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing and footwear under $300 (starting at $100). Cleats and backpacks have been newly added to tax-free items.
- A new Connecticut law that went into effect 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 one month long, but it starts two weeks early this year.
July 20th – August 20th
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Study aids and puzzles like flashcards and puzzle books: under $30
- School supplies: $50 or less per item
- Clothing, footwear, and accessories: $100 or less per item
- Computers and related accessories: $1,500 or less
Illinois Sales Tax Holidays
This is the first school sales tax holiday in Illinois in 10 years.
August 7th to 16th
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing and Footwear: Under $125
- The $125 threshold does not apply to eligible school supplies, including book bags, calculators, and other items used by students for study.
Iowa Sales Tax Holiday
August 7th-8th (first Friday and Saturday in August)
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing or footwear: $100 or less per item
Maryland Sales Tax Holiday
August 9th to August 15th (always from the second Sunday in August to the following Saturday)
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing and footwear: $100 or less per item
- Backpacks: The first $40 of your backpack/bookbag purchase is tax-free
- Accessories except backpacks are not eligible for tax exemption.
August 8th-9th
- Qualified retail items (not limited to school supplies) valued at $2,500 or less purchased for personal use.
- There are some exceptions where the tax applies, including meals, automobiles and boats, gas and electricity, tobacco, marijuana or alcoholic beverages, and single items valued at more than $2,500.
July 10th to 12th
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing and footwear: $100 or less per item
- School supplies: less than $100 per item
missouri sales tax holidays
August 7th – August 9th
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing: $100 or less per item
- School supplies: $50 or less per item
- Computer and peripherals: $1,500
- Computer software: $350 or less
- Graphic Calculator: Under $150
According to the Federation of Tax Administrators, sales tax deductions are optional and not mandatory.
July 31st – August 2nd
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- School supplies: $30 or less per item
- Clothing or shoes: $100 or less each
- Desktop, laptop, tablet, or notebook computer: $1,000
- Associated computer hardware: $500 each.
new york sales tax holiday
- Although there are no sales tax holidays in New York, certain counties, including those that include New York City, do not pay sales tax on clothing and footwear valued at $110 or less year-round.
ohio sales tax holidays
In 2026, Ohio will return to a three-day sales tax holiday, replacing the previous 14-day sales tax holiday that covered nearly all tangible property valued at $500 or less.
August 7th – August 9th
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing: $75 or less per item
- School supplies: $20 or less per item
- School materials: less than $20 per item
Oklahoma sales tax holidays
August 7th to August 9th (first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in August)
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing or footwear: $100 or less per item
- Although Pennsylvania does not have any sales tax holidays, there is no sales tax on clothing and some footwear year-round.
South Carolina has no price limits on tax-exempt items, which include some non-school-related items.
August 7th – August 9th
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- clothing, shoes and accessories
- school supplies
- Computer, printer, earphones, headphones
- Certain bed and bath items
July 31st – August 2nd
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing and shoes: less than $100 per item
- School supplies: less than $100 per item
- Computers, including laptops and tablets: $1,500 or less each
texas sales tax holiday
August 7th – August 9th
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing and shoes: less than $100 per item
- Backpacks: Less than $100 per item
- School supplies: less than $100 per item
Virginia Sales Tax Holidays
Virginia sales tax holidays also include hurricane and emergency preparedness items and Energy Star/Water Sense items.
August 7th – August 9th
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing and shoes: less than $100 per item
- School supplies: $20 or less per item
- Portable generators: $1,000 or less per item
- Gas-powered chainsaws: $350 or less per item
- Chainsaw accessories: $60 or less per item
- Other designated hurricane preparedness items: $60 or less per item.
- Eligible Energy Star and WaterSense products purchased for non-commercial home or personal use: $2,500 or less per item
July 31st to August 3rd (from the Friday before the first Sunday in August to the following Monday)
Items eligible for tax exemption:
- Clothing: $125 or less per item
- Laptop or tablet computer: $500 or less per item
- School materials: less than $20 each
- School supplies: $50 or less per item
- Sports equipment: $150 or less per item
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her at @blinfisher on X, Facebook and Instagram and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky.. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, breaking down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.
