Next Friday kicks off the always anticipated Sales Tax Holiday (know as tax free weekend) across the state. Local shoppers and retailers are both getting ready for this busy weekend. This year’s Sales Tax Holiday is August 21-23.
The Texas State Comptrollers Office released lists of items that are approved for the Sales Tax Holiday. Effective this year, in addition to clothes, footwear and some backpacks, Texas families also get a sales tax break on most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school.
The following is an all-inclusive list of qualifying school supplies (if priced less than $100):
- Binders
- Book bags
- Calculators
- Cellophane tape
- Blackboard chalk
- Compasses
- Composition books
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Folders; expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
- Glue, paste and paste sticks
- Highlighters
- Index cards
- Index card boxes
- Legal pads
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- Lunch boxes
- Markers
- Notebooks
- Paper; loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
- Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
- Pencil sharpeners
- Pencils
- Pens
- Protractors
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Writing tablets
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Below is a list of Clothing, Footwear and Backpacks, and Their Exemption Status
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TAX FREE
- Baby clothes
- Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students
- Belts with attached buckles
- Boots – cowboy, hiking
- Caps/hats – baseball, fishing, golf, knitted
- Coats and wraps
- Diapers – adult and baby
- Dresses
- Gloves (generally)
- Gym suits and uniforms
- Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
- Hosiery
- Jackets
- Jeans
- Jerseys – baseball and football
- Jogging apparel
- Neckwear and ties
- Pajamas
- Pants and trousers
- Raincoats and ponchos
- Robes
- Shirts
- Shoes – sandals, slippers, sneakers, tennis, walking
- Socks (including athletic)
- Shorts
- Suits, slacks, and jackets
- Sweatshirts
- Sweat suits
- Sweaters
- Swimsuits
- Underclothes
- Work clothes and uniforms
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TAXED
- Accessories (generally) – barrettes, elastic ponytail holders, wallets, watches
- Backpacks – unless for use by elementary and secondary students
- Baseball cleats and pants
- Belt buckles (without belt)
- Boots – climbing, fishing, rubber work boots, ski, waders
- Buttons and zippers
- Cloth and lace, knitting yarns, and other fabrics
- Dry cleaning services
- Football pants
- Golf gloves
- Handbags and purses
- Handkerchiefs
- Hard hats
- Helmets – bike, baseball, football, hockey, motorcycle, sports
- Ice skates
- Jewelry
- Laundering services
- Leather goods – except belts with buckles and wearing apparel
- Pads – football, hockey, soccer, elbow, knee, shoulder
- Personal flotation devices
- Rented clothing (including uniforms, formal wear, and costumes)
- Roller blades and skates
- Safety clothing, glasses
- Shoes – bicycle (cleated), bowling, golf
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The comptroller’s office defines a backback as a pack with straps one wears on the back. The exemption during the sales tax holiday includes backpacks with wheels, provided they can also be worn on the back like a traditional backpack, and messenger bags. The exemption does not include items that are reasonably defined as luggage, briefcases, athletic/duffle/gym bags, computer bags, purses or framed backpacks. Ten or fewer backpacks can be purchased tax-free at one time without providing an exemption certificate to the seller.
For more information, visit the Texas Comptroller’s Tax Holiday Frequently Asked Questions page by clicking here.
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