Texas Tax-Free Weekend Begins Friday

The State of Texas’ annual three-day sales tax holiday will begin this Friday morning, Aug. 5, and continue through the end of the business day on Sunday, Aug. 7.

During the Tax-Free Weekend as it is known, shoppers are exempt from the 8.25-percent sales and use tax traditionally charged for school supplies and for most clothing and footwear priced under $100.

The Texas Legislature created the tax holiday three years ago by exempting most clothing items, shoes, school supplies and backpacks priced at less than $100. During the scheduled tax holiday, families can save more than $8 on each $100 spent for qualifying school related purchases.

Traditional Back-to-School student school supplies that qualify for Tax-Free Weekend include:

• School backpacks (but not luggage, athletic or computer bags)
• Binders
• Calculators
• Composition books
• Crayons
• Glue
• Highlighters
• Lunchboxes
• Markers
• Notebooks
• Paper
• Scissors
• Pencils and pencil boxes
• Folders, including expandable, pocket, plastic and manila folders

In addition to traditional in-store sales, qualifying items may be purchased online, by telephone or mail, or even placed on layaway, said Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

For more information on the Tax-Free Weekend and to view full lists of qualifying items, please visit the State of Texas Comptroller’s website.