From Comptroller’s Office
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Aug. 5-7.
State law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend.
The dates of the sales tax holiday and the list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.
“Most Texans won’t hear the back-to-school bell for another month, but it’s never too early to take advantage of the opportunity to save money on everything from book bags to ballpoint pens,” said Hegar.
“With inflation driving prices higher on just about everything, this sales tax holiday provides Texas families some small relief managing the costs associated with kids heading back to the classroom. As the father of three school-age children myself, I know how these expenses can add up.”
The Comptroller’s office estimates that shoppers will save $112 million in state and local sales tax during this sales tax holiday.
Qualifying items can be purchased tax-free from a Texas store or from an online or catalog seller doing business in Texas.
In most cases, you do not need to give the seller an exemption certificate to buy qualifying items tax-free.
The sales tax exemption applies only to qualifying items you buy during the sales tax holiday.
Items you buy before or after the sales tax holiday do not qualify for the exemption, and there is no tax refund available.
The exemption applies to each eligible item sold for less than $100, and there is no limit to the number of qualifying items you can buy.
The exemption includes backpacks with wheels and messenger bags as long as they are under $100.
Cloth and disposable fabric face masks meet the definition of an article of clothing and are exempt from sales tax during the sales tax holiday.
If a cloth or disposable fabric face mask is sold with a filter, the mask is exempt during the holiday; however, replacement filters are taxable.
The following items do not qualify for exemption during the sales tax holiday:
- items sold for $100 or more
- clothing subscription boxes
- specially-designed athletic activity or protective-use clothing or footwear
- clothing or footwear rentals, alterations including embroidery, and cleaning services
- items used to make or repair clothing, such as fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks, and zippers
- jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, and other accessories
- computers
- software
- textbooks
- certain baggage items
- unspecified school supplies