How Shoppers Can Save During Texas' 2025 Tax-Free Weekend

Understanding the 2025 Texas Sales Tax Holiday

Texans have a unique opportunity to save money on essential purchases during the 2025 statewide sales tax holiday, which runs from Friday, August 8, through Sunday, August 10. This annual event allows residents to buy qualifying items without paying state and local sales taxes, making it an ideal time to stock up on school supplies, clothing, and other necessary goods.

According to Kelly Hancock, Acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the sales tax holiday is expected to save Texans over $133 million in taxes this year. On average, shoppers can expect to save about $8 for every $100 spent on eligible items. Since the tradition began in 1999, Texans have saved more than $2 billion, highlighting the long-standing impact of this tax-free period.

How the Sales Tax Holiday Works

The tax-free period applies to a wide range of purchases made in-store, online, via mail, or through custom orders, as long as the transaction occurs between August 8 and August 10. However, it's important to note that rain checks issued during the tax-free weekend do not qualify for future exemptions.

For online shoppers, additional considerations apply. Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the total price of an item. If the combined cost exceeds $100, tax will be applied to the entire amount. For example, if a customer buys a pair of jeans for $95 with a $10 delivery charge, the total becomes $105, and tax would be due on the full amount.

Top Tips for Saving on School Supplies

The Texas Comptroller’s website provides a comprehensive list of school supplies that are exempt from sales tax during the holiday. Most items priced under $100 qualify, unless otherwise specified, and bulk purchases are generally not allowed.

Some of the qualifying items include:

• Binders
• Blackboard chalk
• Book bags and lunch boxes
• Calculators
• Cellophane tape
• Compasses, protractors, and rulers
• Composition books, legal pads, and notebooks
• Folders – including expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila folders
• Glue, paste, and glue sticks
• Index cards and index card boxes
• Paper – including loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, construction paper, and poster board
• Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
• Scissors
• Writing utensils – including pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, highlighters, markers, dry erase markers, crayons, and erasers
• Writing tablets

School supply kits are also tax-exempt, provided they contain only qualifying items. If a kit includes both taxable and tax-free items, the exemption depends on the value of the items. If the exempt items are worth more, the kit remains tax-free. Otherwise, the kit will be taxed.

Student backpacks priced under $100, including those with wheels and messenger bags, are also tax-free. However, purchasing more than 10 backpacks at once requires an exemption certificate.

Clothing, Footwear, and Other Items

Most clothing and footwear items sold for less than $100 are tax-free, with no limit on the number of qualifying items. The Comptroller’s website clarifies that both cloth and disposable fabric face masks, including those with filters, are considered articles of clothing and are exempt. However, industrial or medical-grade masks, such as N95s, and replacement filters remain taxable.

Diapers—both cloth and disposable—are also tax-free, along with certain sanitizers and wipes that have a drug facts label. These items are tax-free year-round.

Non-Qualifying Items

Not all items are eligible for the tax exemption. Any item priced at $100 or more will still be taxed. Additionally, the following items are not exempt:

• Accessories – such as jewelry, handbags, umbrellas, watches, wallets, and more
• Unspecified school supplies not listed on the exemption list
• Baggage – such as framed backpacks, luggage, briefcases, purses, computer bags, duffle bags, and athletic/gym bags
• Clothing cleaning services, embroidery services, and alterations
• Clothing or footwear rentals
• Clothing subscription boxes
• Computers and software
• Items used to make or repair clothing – such as fabric, thread, zippers, buttons, snaps, hooks, and yarn
• Sports shoes, protective-use clothing, and athletic gear – such as cleats, shoulder pads, dance shoes, helmets, shin guards, and others
• Textbooks

What to Do if You're Charged Tax on a Qualifying Item

If a customer purchases a tax-exempt item during the sales tax holiday and is still charged tax, they should request a refund from the seller. The seller can either issue the refund directly or provide the customer with Form 00-985, "Assignment to Right to Refund," which allows the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller’s website.