Texas shoppers can save money on back-to-school essentials this weekend as the state’s annual Sales Tax Holiday gets underway.
The 2026 Texas Sales Tax Holiday has started and runs through midnight Sunday, allowing families to purchase qualifying school items without paying state and local sales taxes.
What items qualify?
During the tax-free weekend, shoppers can purchase qualifying:
- Clothing
- Footwear
- School supplies
- Backpacks
To qualify, each item must cost less than $100.
There is no limit to the number of qualifying items you can purchase, as long as each item is priced under the $100 threshold.
Shopping online? Don’t forget shipping costs
If you’re shopping online, the total purchase price — including shipping and handling charges — determines whether an item qualifies.
For example:
- A pair of jeans priced at $95 with $10 shipping totals $105.
- Because the total price exceeds $100, the purchase would not qualify for the sales tax exemption.
Eligible items can be purchased tax-free through several methods, including:
- In-store
- Online
- By telephone
- By mail
How much can you save?
Texas’ combined state and local sales tax rate is 8.25%, meaning shoppers will save 8.25 cents on every dollar spent on qualifying purchases.
For example:
- Spend $300 on qualifying items and you’ll save $24.75 in sales tax.
Financial experts recommend shoppers make a list before heading to the store, compare prices and avoid impulse purchases to maximize their savings during the three-day tax holiday.