There are 17 states with tax-free weekends this year, mostly intended for back-to-school shopping, but anyone looking for tech, supplies, or clothing can take advantage of the savings.


This post originally appeared on DealNews.

Kids still have a chunk of summer vacation left, but it’s not too soon to start planning your back-to-school shopping if your state has a tax-free weekend coming up. That’s because during those weekends, participating stores will refrain from charging sales tax on select items, many of which cater to back-to-school needs (although you don’t need to have a matriculating child to take advantage of the savings).


To find out if your state has a tax-free weekend this summer, check out the chart below. Some of these weekends will start popping up in July, so it’s worth planning your shopping list soon!

Tax-Free Back-to-School Shopping

Tax-free holidays first started in 1997 in New York, and since then they’ve grown into a popular event throughout the country. Some states even have multiple ones, for residents to purchase things like Energy Star or WaterSense items, hurricane preparedness items, or even hunting supplies.

However, the most commonly celebrated tax-free weekends are the ones that usually serve as key back-to-school shopping events. They naturally go together, and not just because of the late summer timing either; very often the items that qualify for tax-free weekends are items that students of all ages need. Parents can save on clothing and shoes, school supplies of all kinds, computers, and other tech. Plus, if you’re savvy, you can find back-to-school sales that are active during your state’s tax free weekend, multiplying your potential savings.

Tax-Free Weekends Aren’t Just for Students

Obviously, you don’t have to be a parent or a student in order to benefit from back-to-school sales and tax-free holidays. Anybody who wants to add to their wardrobe, upgrade their tech, or score some office supplies can take advantage of a tax free weekend.


If you remember only one thing while you hit the tax-free weekend sales this year, it’s this: many states impose purchase limits on eligible items. Often, it’s only items under a certain amount that will qualify for tax-free perks.

You Won’t Find Louisiana on the List this Year

While not technically tax-free, Louisiana will have at least a discounted tax rate over August 5 and 6 on tangible personal property purchases less than $2,500. Unfortunately, it’s not a short-term change. This lower rate of 3% is valid for all tax holidays from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018. After that, a 0% sales tax holiday will resume for July 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019.


When and Where You Can Find Tax-Free Weekends and Which Items Qualify

State Dates Eligible Items / Max Cost Alabama August 5 - 7 Clothing: $100

Computers: $750

School supplies: $50

Books: $30 Arkansas August 6 - 7 School supplies: No limit

Clothing: $100

Clothing accessories and equipment: $50 **Connecticut August 21 - 27 Clothing and footwear: $100 *Florida August 5 - 7 School supplies: $15

Clothing: $60

Georgia July 30 - 31 Clothing: $100

School supplies: $20

Computers: $1,000 Iowa August 5 - 6 Clothing and footwear: $100 Maryland August 14 - 20 Clothing and footwear: $100 *Massachusetts August 5 - 6 Clothing and footwear: $100 Mississippi July 29 - 30 Clothing and footwear: $100 Missouri August 5 - 7 Clothing: $100

School supplies: $50

Computer software: $350

Computers: $1,500

Computer peripherals: $1,500

Graphing calculators: $150 New Mexico August 5 - 7 School supplies: $30

Clothing: $100

Computers: $1,000

Computer equipment: $500 Ohio August 5 - 7 Clothing: $75

School supplies: $20

School instructional material: $20 *Oklahoma August 5 - 7 Clothing: $100 **South Carolina August 5 - 7 Clothing and accessories: No limit

School supplies: No limit

Computers and accessories: No limit

Bed and bath items: No limit Tennessee July 29 - 31 Clothing: $100

School supplies: $100

Computers: $1,500 Texas August 5 - 7 Clothing and footwear: $100

Backpacks: $100

School supplies: $100 Virginia August 5 - 7 Clothing and footwear: $100

School supplies: $20


*Indicates states containing links to legal documents with details on Sales Tax holidays.

**Indicates states that still have to confirm tax holidays for this year.

Readers, do you shop the tax free weekends? If so, what’s the most you’ve ever saved while shopping? Do you prefer to shop at office supply stores like Staples or Office Max, or do you go for big box retailers, clothing stores, or elsewhere?


When Is Your State’s Tax Free Weekend in 2016? | DealNews

As a college student, Julie Ramhold wrote for the college newspaper and freelanced for the website College Candy. Since then she has worked as freelancer through Textbroker and has written press releases, feature pages, and other miscellaneous pieces for a software company. She enjoys writing both as a hobby and a career, and is always working on some kind of story. Top image by Seamartini Graphics ( Shutterstock ).

