Back to school shopping tips for parents
Use these technical tips to conquer returning to school and shopping.
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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.
There are 17 states with sales tax holidays if certain purchases made for the school are tax-exempt.
Four states had sales tax holidays in July, with the remaining 13 states holding holidays in August.
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.
Florida expanded its return to school sales tax holidays to include a month from August 1 to August 1 to August.
Next weekend: There are tax-free holiday events in three more states. In addition to Maryland (August 10th to August 16th), Massachusetts (August 9th and August 10th), Texas (August 8th to August 10th), Ohio and Florida.
Connecticut will be the last state to hold sales tax holidays from August 17th to August 23rd.
A complete list of participating states, details of what is tax-free, and a snapshot of how shoppers feel.
Shopping back to school has already begun
Early school shopping has already begun and has increased in July. This year, 26% of school shoppers had already begun browsing and purchasing by early June. That’s up from 22% last year, 17% in 2019.
Shoppers often like to buy early to broaden their budgets and get early deals and promotions.
A major change occurred in July. When 57% of the family were shopping for their grades and college students, they said they started shopping, Catherine Cullen, vice president of industrial and consumer insights for the National Retail Federation, told reporters during a media briefing since 55% last year.
The big concern, according to shoppers, is tariffs. Three-quarters, or 74% of those surveyed, said they were shopping earlier this year because they feared that tariffs could rise in prices later this season.
“In June, people were a little more worried about their finances and decided, ‘Hey, maybe I’ll buy what I need and restock later that year,'” Karen said. “It was in July, ‘No, I need to stock up and store it because things can be much more expensive in the second half of the season or later in the year.”
Sales tax holidays help consumers save more, Karen told USA Today in a previous interview in June.
“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
The average K-12 shopper budgets on average $858 per student, from an average $875 per student, while those who buy for college students this year are expected to spend $1,326 from last year’s $1,365, according to the NRF. According to the NRF survey, 76% of shoppers expect a higher price tag for what they need this year.
And while average spending is expected to decrease, total spending is expected to increase as shoppers prioritize essential categories, Karen said. Overall, back-to-school spending is expected to reach $128 billion this year, up 2% from last year, she said.
Still, there are categories that shoppers will pull back. The biggest one is electronics, Karen said.
A return to school survey by Deloitte estimates that spending on K-12 shopping will remain 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 (who make under $50,000) said they plan to spend more than 10% this year, while middle-income and high-income families have pulled back, saying they are 7% to 9% less.
Another study by CoreSight Research states that 68% of shoppers limit the amount inflation spends shopping back to school, 73% of shoppers expect prices to rise, while 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 the Federation of Tax Administrators, a report by USA Today, 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.
According to the Tax Foundation, five states do not charge sales taxes throughout the year: Alaska, Montana, Delaware, Oregon and New Hampshire. Some Alaska municipalities are charging sales tax.
Alabama Sales Tax Holiday
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
Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday
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
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 Sales Tax Holiday
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
Sales tax leave in Iowa
August 1st-2nd
What is tax-free:
- Clothing or Footwear: 100 or less per item
Maryland Sales Tax Holiday
August 10th-16th (always from the second Sunday to the next Saturday of August).
What is tax-free:
- Clothing and Footwear: Under $100 per item
- Backpack: The first $40 for purchase of a backpack/book bag is tax-free
Accessories except backpacks are not included.
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 Sales Tax Holiday
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
New York Sales Tax Holiday
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.
Ohio Sales Tax Holiday
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.
Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday
August 1st-3rd
What is tax-free:
- Clothing or Footwear: 100 or less 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
Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday
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
Texas Sales Tax Holiday
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
Virginia Sales Tax Holiday
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
This story has been updated to add new information.
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.
