Get Ready for the 2023 Tax-Free Weekends!
These are weekends where you don’t have to pay sales tax on certain items. In the past, they have been mainly for back to school shopping, but many states are offering more to prepare for hurricane season. Most are in August so make sure to take note of the days!
There are definitely some states that are offering more than others when it comes to these tax-free weekends. For example, Alabama is offering tax-free shopping on select items related to hurricane preparedness. This includes generators, tarps, and batteries. So if you live in or near Alabama, be sure to take advantage of this!
Other states like Florida and Georgia are also offering Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays. However, their selection of items is not as broad as Alabama’s. But it’s still worth checking out if you’re in need of any of the eligible items!
So if you’re looking to do some tax-free shopping this summer, be sure to check and see if your state is participating. And even if they’re not, there are still plenty of ways to save on back to school shopping!
About Tax Free Weekend
Most states in the US offer a Sales Tax Holiday, also known as a Tax Free Weekend, at some point during the year. This is usually a Friday, Saturday and Sunday where shoppers can purchase certain items without having to pay sales tax. The holidays are meant to help families save on back-to-school shopping, but many states have expanded their offerings to include other items like hurricane preparedness supplies.
Eligible Items
The specific items that are eligible for tax exemption vary by state, but they typically include school supplies and clothing. In some states, the holiday has been expanded to include other items like hurricane preparedness supplies or energy efficient appliances.
Here is our guide broken down by state:
- ALABAMA July 21- July 23
- School supplies less than $50
- Books under $30
- Computers under $750
- Clothing under $100
- ARKANSAS August 5 – August 6
- Clothing and footwear under $100
- Accessories under $50
- Select school supplies
- Select art supplies
- Select books like workbooks, textbooks, reference materials
- Electronic Devices like laptops, desktops, calculators, cell phones, tablets (No maximum)
- CONNECTICUT August 20 – August 26
- Clothing and footwear under $100 per item (Excludes Athletic uniforms and gear)
- FLORIDA July 24 – August 6
- Clothing, footwear and certain accessories under $100 per item
- Most school supplies under $50
- Computers and related accessories under $1,500
- Jigsaw Puzzles and Learning Aids under $30
- IOWA August 4 – August 5
- Clothing or footwear under $100 per item
- MARYLAND August 13 – August 19
- Clothing and footwear under $100 (excludes accessories)
- The first $40 of a backpack purchase
- MASSACHUSETTS August 14– August 15 (Not yet confirmed for 2023)
- Retail items of up to $2,500, purchased in Massachusetts for personal use on these two days, will be exempt from sales tax.
- MISSISSIPPI July 28 – July 29
- Clothing and footwear under $100 per item
- School Supplies under $100 per item
- MISSOURI August 4 – August 6
- Clothing and footwear under $100 per item
- School supplies under $50 per item
- Graphing calculators under $150 per item
- Computer software under $350 per item
- Personal computers under $1,500 per item
- Computer peripheral items under $1,500 per item
- NEW JERSEY – August 26 – September 4
- Personal computers under $3,000 per item
- Most school supplies
- School Art Supplies
- Select sport and recreational equipment
- Instructional Materials like workbooks, textbooks, reference materials
- NEW MEXICO August 4 – August 6
- Clothing and shoes under $100 per item
- Computers under $1000 per item and Computer Hardware under $500 per item
- School supplies under $30 per item
- OHIO August 4 – August 6
- Clothing under $75 per item
- School supplies or instructional material under $20 per item
- OKLAHOMA August 4 – August 6
- Clothing and footwear under $100
- Accessories and athletic footwear/protective gear excluded
- SOUTH CAROLINA August 4 – August 6
- Clothing and footwear
- School supplies
- Computers, Flash Drives, Printers
- Musical Instruments
- Athletic, Band, Scouts, or Any Cchool Uniforms
- Backpacks
- Bedding
- Diapers
- TENNESSEE July 28 – July 30
- Clothing items under $100 per item
- School & art supplies under $100 per item
- Backpacks under $100 per item
- Computers under $1,500 per item
- TEXAS August 11 – August 13
- Clothing & footwear items under $100 per item
- School & art supplies under $100 per item
- Backpacks under $100 per item
- WEST VIRGINIA August 4 – August 7
- Clothing under $125 per item
- School supplies under $50 per item
- School instruction material under $20 per item
- Laptop and tablet computers under $500 per item
- Sports equipment under $150 per item
