Texas Tax-Free Weekend 2025: Shop Without Tax Aug. 8-10

Understanding the Texas Tax-Free Weekend

Families across the Texas Panhandle, South Plains, and other regions are preparing to take advantage of the annual Tax-Free Weekend, a state-wide initiative that offers temporary relief from sales tax on essential back-to-school purchases. This year’s event will run from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 8, through midnight on Sunday, August 10. The program covers a wide range of items priced under $100, providing much-needed financial support for families during the school year.

According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, shoppers are expected to save approximately $133.2 million in state and local sales taxes during this three-day period. Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock highlighted the importance of the event during a visit to a major retailer in Midland, stating that “Back-to-school costs can add up fast.” She emphasized that the tax-free weekend helps families stretch their budgets, saving about $8 for every $100 spent.

Since its inception in 1999, the tradition has helped Texans save over $2 billion, and Hancock expressed her commitment to keeping it running.

What Qualifies for the Tax Holiday?

The tax exemption applies to a variety of items commonly purchased for the school year. These include:

• Clothing and Footwear: Shirts, jeans, dresses, socks, sneakers, uniforms, raincoats, and cowboy boots.
• School Supplies: Pencils, pens, notebooks, binders, glue, calculators, art supplies, and lunch boxes.
• Backpacks: Including wheeled styles and messenger bags, limited to 10 per purchase.
• Diapers: Both disposable and cloth.
• Hand Sanitizers, Wipes, and Soaps: Labeled with “Drug Facts,” which are tax-free year-round.

Commonly purchased items during the tax holiday include kids' sneakers, backpacks, uniform polos, spiral notebooks, glue sticks, and packs of pens or highlighters. Younger children often need crayons, markers, and construction paper, while high school and college students may focus on scientific calculators, binders, and graph paper.

To qualify, each item must have a final price under $100, including delivery, shipping, and handling fees. For example, a $95 pair of sneakers with a $10 shipping charge would be taxable.

Items That Do Not Qualify

Certain items are not included in the tax exemption. These include:

• Jewelry, handbags, wallets, and watches
• Protective and athletic gear: Such as football pads, ballet slippers, or cleats
• Computers, software, e-readers, and textbooks
• Materials used to make or repair clothing: Like fabric, thread, buttons, or zippers

Online, Layaway, and Delivery Orders

The sales tax exemption applies to purchases made in-store, online, by phone, mail, or through layaway. Orders paid for during the tax-free period qualify, even if the item is delivered later. If you enter your credit card information for qualifying items by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, the purchase is tax-exempt—even if the items ship later. However, if a payment is declined and resubmitted after the deadline, the purchase becomes taxable.

Layaway rules also apply. New items placed on layaway during the holiday and final payments on previously placed items qualify, as long as the individual item’s price remains below $100.

What to Do If You’re Charged Tax

If a shopper is mistakenly charged tax on a qualifying item, they may request a refund from the retailer or file Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, with the Texas Comptroller’s Office. Retailers must report tax-free sales under Total Texas Sales (Item 1) and exclude them from Taxable Sales (Item 2) on their tax return.

Major Retailers and Back-to-School Planning

Most major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Academy Sports, Amazon, United, and H-E-B, participate in the tax holiday. Some, like H-E-B, offer printed or digital school supply lists through platforms such as TeacherLists, helping parents find what their children need based on district-specific requirements.

Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock encouraged families to plan ahead and review the full exemption list. “You’ll be surprised what qualifies as school supplies,” she said.

Cost Savings at a Critical Time

With school supply costs still elevated after the pandemic, the holiday provides timely financial relief. According to the Comptroller’s Office, prices have risen nearly 24% since the global supply chains were disrupted by COVID-19, making every dollar saved more valuable.

National retail analysts project that families with school-aged children will spend nearly $890 per household this year on supplies, electronics, and apparel. That’s a significant increase compared to the pre-pandemic average of roughly $700.

Shopping Tips for the Tax-Free Weekend

Bank of America recently conducted a survey showing that 60% of people are planning to tap into discounted online shopping, including Amarilloans, during the Aug. 8-10 Tax-Free Weekend. BofA provided the following tips:

• Set a ‘Sales Day Budget’ to avoid impulse buying.
• Create a wish list and do your homework to stay focused on necessary purchases.
• Maximize your rewards by using a credit card that offers cash back on shopping.

For the official list of eligible items, tax refund forms, and detailed FAQs, visit the Texas Comptroller’s website.