Texas Tax-Free Holiday Aims For Back-To-School Savings

AUSTIN, TX — Although a return to in-class learning is unclear amid the fog of the coronavirus pandemic, the state still is poised to offer a tax-free holiday this coming weekend for needed back-to-school items.

The Texas comptroller's office released details on the event, which allows for the sale of certain items sans sales tax. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, the comptroller encourages all taxpayers to continue practicing social distancing and support Texas businesses while saving money on tax-free purchases of most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks (sold for less than $100) during the annual Tax-Free weekend," state officials wrote on the comptroller's website.

This year’s sales tax holiday begins Friday and runs until midnight Sunday (Aug. 7-9). The sales tax exemption applies only to qualifying items bought during the sales tax holiday, officials explained. Items you buy before or after the sales tax holiday do not qualify for exemption, and there is no tax refund available, officials added.

To further promote social distancing, consumers will be able to buy qualifying items online or by telephone, mail, custom order or any other means (including in-store purchases) tax-free, when either:

• The item is both delivered, and paid for, by the customer during the exemption; or
• the customer orders and pays for the item, and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period ends.

If buying items in-store, the comptroller’s office urges all taxpayers to practice appropriate social distancing as described in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines during the sales tax holiday.

Qualifying Items

• List of clothing, footwear and other items.
• List of school supplies.
• Clothing and footwear.
• Backpacks.
• School supplies.

Special Purchases

• School supplies purchased with a business account – exemption certificate required.
• Layaways.
• Special orders and rain checks.

For more information, visit the state comptroller's office website.