Families can save up to $2,500 on back-to-school shopping in these states thanks to upcoming tax-free holidays

Kids are bummed, but parents are beaming. 

While summer isn’t over just yet, back-to-school shopping can soon be checked off the list. And your state may be the reason for some serious savings.

Running from July into August, states across the country have sales tax holidays — tax-free weeks where states eliminate tax from select items. However, the money-saving holiday is only in certain states.

As of 2026, there are only 18 states that participate in the tax break. However, some will provide year-round clothing relief. For example, clothing and footwear are typically exempt from sales tax year-round in Vermont.

Also, some states don’t collect a state sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. While the NOMAD’s — a common nickname for the five states — have no statewide sales tax, it doesn’t necessarily mean no taxes at checkout.

Some will still have local taxes, fees, or special taxes on certain goods or services.

The Post put together a list of states participating in the tax-free holiday using each state’s Department of Revenue website.

Mississippi

Starting July 10-12, Mississippi axed the sales tax on eligible clothing, footwear or school supplies — if the sales price of a single item is less than $100.

Alabama

Alabama had its tax-free event from July 17-19, where shoppers could score certain school supplies, computers and clothing. 

Shoppers paid no tax on any single clothing item priced at $156 or less. Computers, laptops and other qualifying software priced at $1,173 or less. For school supplies, any individual item priced $78 or less, or books priced $47 or less.

Florida

Starting this week, Florida residents will be able to grab their tax-free items. From July 20 through August 20, shoppers can buy a personal computer or certain computer accessories tax-free if the item costs $1,500 or less.

Wallets and bags with a sales price of $100 or less are also up for grabs. Plus, school supplies having a sales price of $50 or less per item, learning aids and jigsaw puzzles having a sales price of $30 or less and clothing, footwear, and other accessories having a sales price of $100 or less per item.

The Sunshine State added a full list of items available.

New Mexico

Next up is New Mexico, as the state is giving shoppers from July 31 until August 2 to grab school supplies tax-free. Residents can get the discount on the following: clothing and footwear at $100 or less, computers and tablets $1,000 or less, computer equipment at $500 or less and qualifying school supplies at $30 or less.

Tennessee

Tennessee is also holding its tax event from July 31 until August 2, where shoppers will get tax exemptions on clothing $100 or less per item, school supplies at $100 or less per item and computers at $1,500 or less.

The state revealed that items sold together, like shoes, cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum. For an entire list of qualifying items, check out the state’s Department of Revenue website.

West Virginia

West Virginia is also scrapping sales tax starting on July 31 until August 3. During the holiday, the following items are exempt from sales tax: certain clothing with a purchase price of $125 or less, certain laptop and tablet computers with a purchase price of $500 or less, eligible school instruction material at $20 or less, qualifying school supplies at $50 or less, and certain sports equipment priced at $150 or less.

Arkansas

From August 1- 2, Arkansas residents will see no sales tax on clothing and footwear on $100 or less per item, clothing accessories and equipment $50 or less per item. For school supplies, school art supplies and school instructional materials, the state does not cap the tax exemption.

Virginia

Virginia has a three-day event from August 7-9 where eligible items include: qualified school supplies at $20 or less per item, qualified clothing and footwear at $100 or less per item and even qualifying Energy Star or WaterSense products at $2,500 or less per item.

Texas

Texas’s three-day tax holiday is also August 7-9, where shoppers can score clothing, backpacks and school supplies on items $100 or less.

South Carolina

Similarly, South Carolina’s is also August 7-9 on items ranging from clothing, accessories, and shoes to school supplies, backpacks and computers at no maximum cap. “As long as an item is eligible, it is tax-free whether purchased in-store or online​​​​,” the state’s website reads.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s event is August 7-9 and exempts sales tax on specific clothing and footwear on items than $100.

Ohio

Ohio shoppers will also see no sales tax during August 7-9 on 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.

Iowa

Starting August 7-8, Iowa residents will have two days to scour stores to pay zero taxes on all eligible clothing and footwear less than $100 per item.

Missouri

Residents will see a wide variety of items with no sales tax from August 7-9. Qualifying clothing on items up to $100 per item, school supplies on items $50 or less, and computers and peripheral devices up to $1,500. Plus, computer software up to $350 and graphing calculators up to $150 or less.

Massachusetts

Meanwhile, Massachusetts shoppers will see a much larger tax exemption as folks can save up to $2,500.

From August 8-9, a sales tax holiday applies to eligible retail items, not only back-to-school supplies. However, exceptions include vehicles, food, alcohol, gas, certain utilities, tobacco and marijuana.

Maryland

Starting August 9-15, Maryland residents will see tax savings on qualifying apparel and footwear priced at $100 or less per item. The first $40 of a backpack or bookbag purchase is also tax-free. The state said that accessory items, except for backpacks, are not included.

Connecticut

Running from August 16-22, Connecticut residents will see an entire week to score clothing, shoes, and backpacks sans sales tax on items up to $300.

Illinois

Residents of Illinois will not see an entirely tax-free holiday, however, qualifying clothing and school supplies will see a reduced sales tax. From August 7-16, shoppers will get a by 5% reduction. This means residents will only pay 1.25% on certain items.

These include qualifying clothing and footwear with a price of less than $125 per item and certain school supplies. School supplies are not subject to the $125 threshold.