News & Publications

Sales Tax Holiday 2026: Retail Therapy, But Make It Tax Free

What is a Sales Tax Holiday?

A sales tax holiday is a limited-time event during which certain items are exempt from state and/or local sales tax. These holidays are typically implemented by governments to encourage spending during key periods — most commonly around the back-to-school season, severe weather preparedness windows, or major holidays.

Commonly Eligible Products

While the qualifying items differ from state to state, sales tax holidays often apply to categories such as:

Clothing and footwear
School supplies and instructional materials
Computers, tablets, and related accessories
Energy-efficient household appliances
Disaster preparedness supplies, such as batteries, flashlights, and generators

When Do Sales Tax Holidays Occur?

Sales tax holidays typically occur around predictable annual events and generally last anywhere from 2–10 days. Back-to-school tax holidays commonly occur during the summer months, while other states offer exemptions tied to hurricane preparedness or severe weather readiness. For example, many states hold back-to-school holidays in late July or early August, while others schedule tax-free weekends before hurricane season or winter weather arrives.

Sales Tax Holiday by State

State	Details
Alabama	July 17-19, 2026: Shoppers can enjoy tax-free savings on a variety of back-to-school essentials, including clothing priced at $156 or less per item; computers, computer software, and school computer supplies with sales price of $1,173 or less; school supplies, art supplies, and instructional materials priced at $78 or less per item; and books priced at $47 or less, all for noncommercial use.
Arkansas	August 1-2, 2026: Shoppers can take advantage of a sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear if the sales price is less than $100 per item, clothing accessories or equipment if the sales price is less than $50 per item, electronic devices used by a student in a course of study, school art supplies, school instructional materials, and school supplies.
Connecticut	August 16-22, 2026: During this tax holiday, clothing and footwear items costing less than $100 are exempt from sales tax.
Florida	July 20, 2026 – August 20, 2026: The sales tax exemption applies to personal computers and accessories $1,500 or less, wallets and bags of costing $100 or less, school supplies costing $50 or less, learning aids and puzzles costing $30 or less, and clothing, footwear and accessories of $100 or less.
Iowa	August 7-9, 2026: The exemption applies to select clothing and footwear items costing less than $100 will be eligible for exemption during the sales tax holiday.
Louisiana	September 4-6, 2026: Louisiana repealed the Annual Louisiana Sales Tax Holidays Act, effective January 1, 2025. The annual recurring Second Amendment sales tax holiday applies to retail sales of firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies.
Maryland	August 9-15, 2026: The state offers a tax-free period on select back-to-school items, including clothing and footwear priced under $100 per item, excluding accessories.
Massachusetts	August 8-9, 2026: Most retail items priced under $2,500 are exempt from sales tax. Additionally, clothing priced under $175 is exempt from sales tax.
Mississippi	July 10-12, 2026: The sales tax exemption applies to clothing and footwear worn, as well as retail sales of school supplies. August 28-30, 2026: The annual recurring Second Amendment sales tax holiday applies to retail sales of firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies.
Missouri	August 7-9, 2026: The exemption applies to clothing costing $100 or less per purchase; school supplies up to $50 per purchase; computer software up to $350; graphing calculators up to $150; and personal computers or peripheral devices up to $1,500. If the buyer and seller are in different time zones, the buyer’s time zone determines the applicable period.
Nevada	October 30, 2026 - November 1, 2026: Sales of tangible personal property are exempt from tax when sold to active-status resident Nevada National Guard members and their qualifying relatives who reside at the same physical address in Nevada.
New Mexico	July 31, 2026 – August 2, 2026: The sales tax holiday applies to clothing and footwear priced under $100, computers costing less than $1,000, classroom school supplies priced at $30 or less per item, and computer equipment costing under $500.
Ohio	August 7-9, 2026: The exemption will apply to all items of clothing priced at $75 or less, school supplies priced at $20 or less, and school instructional materials priced at $20 or less. It does not apply to items that are $500 or less, food in restaurants, boats/watercrafts, titled outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, vape products, or items with marijuana. It also does not apply to taxable services and items purchased for use in business.
Oklahoma	August 7-9, 2026: During this tax holiday, clothing and footwear priced under $100 per item are exempt from sales tax.
South Carolina	August 7-9, 2026: The sales tax-exempt items generally include clothing, clothing accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers, printers and printer supplies, computer software, bath wash clothes, blankets, bedspreads, bed linens, sheet sets, comforter sets, bath towels, shower curtains, bath rugs and mats, pillows, and pillowcases.
Tennessee	July 31, 2026 -August 2, 2026: The tax exemptions apply to clothing, school supplies, and art supplies priced at $100 or less per item, as well as computers priced at $1,500 or less each.
Texas	August 7-9, 2026: Sales tax exemptions apply to clothing, footwear, backpacks, and school supplies that cost less than $100 per item.
Virginia	August 7-9, 2026: The sales tax exemption applies to certain hurricane preparedness equipment, specified school supplies, clothing and footwear, as well as select energy-efficient and water-efficient products.
West Virginia	July 31, 2026 – August 3, 2026: The tax holiday exempts: (a) items of clothing for which the price is $125 or less; (b) school supplies priced at $50 or less; (c) school instructional material priced at $20 or less; (d) laptops and tablet computers not purchased for use in a trade or business priced at $500 or less; and (e) sports equipment not purchased for use in a trade or business priced at $150 or less.

A business is required to collect sales tax only if registered within the state for tax collection. For more information on sales tax and how to stay in compliance, please reference Sales Tax vs. Use Tax: Do You Know the Difference?

Contributor: Megan Bryarly

Tips for the Taxpayer

In recent years, states are becoming more insistent in the world of sales and use taxes with both regulation changes and enforcement. It is more important than ever for businesses to be aware of how sales tax affects them. Without an understanding of the varieties of sales and use tax, there is more potential for mistakes and audits. Businesses need to have policies and procedures in place that help them determine where, how much, and from whom to collect. Many companies may not have the knowledge, expertise, or time to build this foundation. An expert resource may be the best choice to help manage the world of sales and use tax and guarantee your business is tax compliant.

How Can We Help?

Allyn’s experienced tax team provides comprehensive compliance and consulting for large US and global corporations. We handle all Federal, multi-state, and local tax needs.

Key Services:
-Filing Sales and Use tax returns in all U.S. jurisdictions.
-Routine nexus reviews and proactive compliance improvement.
-Business registration (Secretary of State & Department of Revenue).
-Tax process management and audit defense.

Our dedication to customer service is rated 350% higher than industry averages. Contact us for a customized solution: tax@allynintl.com.

About Allyn International

Allyn International provides high quality, customer centric services and solutions for the global marketplace. Allyn's core products include transportation management, logistics sourcing, freight forwarding, supply chain consulting, tax management and global trade compliance. Allyn clients range from small local businesses to Fortune 500 firms. Allyn conducts business in more than 20 languages and has extensive experience in both developed and emerging markets. Highly trained experts are positioned throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. Allyn’s regional headquarters are strategically located in Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.A., Shanghai, P.R. China, Prague, Czech Republic, and Dubai, U.A.E. For more information, visit www.allynintl.com.