What is a Sales Tax Holiday?
It’s a limited period where a state allows sales tax to be waived on certain categories of items, such as education essentials. Think of it as a vacation from taxes for a few days. Sales Tax Holidays can occur at any time of year, but the most popular time for them is in July or August. This is when Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays take place in advance of the upcoming school year.
Benefits of Sales Tax Holidays
The goal of Sales Tax Holidays is to encourage spending to boost the local economy. A Sales Tax Holiday is also a way to ensure ongoing economic growth by keeping purchases in-state rather than consumers or companies seeking lower cost alternatives in bordering areas that may have lower tax rates. They’re also a way to lure shoppers from nearby states who may not participate in Sales Tax Holidays. So, there are many financial advantages for states to offer these types of annual tax incentives.
The benefits for businesses are vast, too. A Sales Tax Holiday allows institutions to maximize their budgets by getting more supplies for the money to ensure they have everything they need for their faculty and students. It also helps schools make the best use of their grants, which expire if they don’t allocate all the funds by the deadline. Additionally, tax-free weekends can offset inflation by buying items tax-free now that may have much higher price tags later. This will enhance your bottom line by keeping your cash flow healthy.
2023 Sales Tax Holidays by state
You’re probably wondering if your state offers this type of annual tax exemption. Not all states participate, so check out the chart below to see if a Sales Tax Holiday is offered in your area, and what the spending limits for each category are. This list is specific to back-to-school items, and some purchases may be non-commercial. For additional details, consult your state’s complete tax exemption list on their official website.
| State | Dates | Categories & Limits | Official Website Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | July 18 – July 20 | Clothing $100 Computers $750 School supplies $50 Books $30 | Alabama Sales Tax Holidays |
| Arkansas | August 2 – 3 | Clothing/footwear $100 Clothing accessories and equipment $50 School supplies School art supplies School instructional supplies Electronic devices | Arkansas Sales Tax Holidays |
| Connecticut | August 16 – 22 | Clothing/footwear $300 | Connecticut Sales Tax Holidays |
| Florida | July 28 – August 10 | School supplies $50 Clothing $100 Computers $1500 | Florida Sales Tax Holiday |
| Iowa | August 1 – 2 | Clothing/footwear $100 | Iowa Sales Tax Holiday |
| Maryland | August 9 – 15 | School supplies | |
| Mississippi | TBA | Clothing/footwear $100 School supplies $100 | Mississippi Sales Tax Holiday |
| Missouri | TBA | Clothing $100 School supplies $50 Computers & accessories $3500 | |
| New Mexico | TBA | Clothing/shoes $100 School supplies $30 Computers $1000 Computer equipment $500 | New Mexico Sales Tax Holiday |
| Oklahoma | August 1 – 3 | Clothing/footwear $100 | Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday |
| Puerto Rico | TBA | School uniforms/footwear School supplies | Puerto Rico Sales Tax Holiday |
| South Carolina | August 1 – 3 | Clothing, clothing accessories, footwear School supplies Computers and computer software Printers and printer supplies | South Carolina Sales Tax Holiday |
| Tennessee | July 25 – July 27 | Clothing School supplies Computers | Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday |
| Texas | August 8 – 10 | Clothing/shoes Backpacks School supplies | Texas Sales Tax Holiday |
| Virginia | August 1 – 3 | Clothing/footwear School supplies | Virginia Sales Tax Holiday |
| West Virginia | August 1 – 4 | Clothing $125 School supplies $50 School instructional materials $20 Sports equipment $150 Computers $500 | West Virginia Sales Tax Holiday |
Shop your state’s tax-free holidays at Quill
The types of products exempt during Sales Tax Holidays vary by each individual state, but typically include the essentials an educational institution would need for their classrooms. The categories are as follows, but be sure to visit your state’s official taxation website for the most up-to-date information.
Take advantage of your state’s Sales Tax Holiday, along with Quill’s everyday low prices plus added savings when you buy in bulk, to maximize your budget so your school – and your students – can flourish. We have an extensive selection of learning tools, teaching supplies, and education essentials you need for your classroom plus faculty, cleaning, and breakroom supplies.
School Supplies
- Binders and composition books
- Blackboard chalk
- Backpacks
- Calculators
- Crayons
- Folders (expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila)
- Glue, paste, and paste sticks
- Index cards and boxes
- Lunch boxes
- Markers and Highlighters
- Notebooks, legal pads, and writing tablets
- Paper (colored, construction, copy, graph, loose leaf ruled notebook, manila, and tracing papers and poster board)
- Pens, Pencils, Pencil sharpeners, erasers, pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
- Rulers
- Scissors
Computers and Supplies
- Laptops, desktops, or tower computer systems which consist of a central processing unit (CPU).
- Devices such as a display monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers sold as a computer package.
Note that computer parts and devices not sold as part of a package with the CPU do not qualify for the exemption.
Computer Software
- Computer storage media; diskettes, compact disks
- Handheld electronic schedulers, except devices that are cellular phones
- Personal digital assistants, except devices that are cellular phones
- Computer printers
- Printer supplies for computers (printer paper, printer ink)
Whether you’re stocking up on paper, seeking the latest laptops, tablets, or computer accessories, or adding to your outdoor activities and arts and crafts, we’ve got you covered. Best of all, you’ll earn instant rewards on every tax-free dollar you spend. At Quill, we believe your success is our success. Shop now and we’ll help you get there.