Texas’ annual sales tax holiday will run Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9, giving shoppers a temporary exemption on most clothing, footwear, school supplies and student backpacks priced below $100 per item.
Qualifying purchases can be made in stores, online, by telephone or by mail, according to the Texas comptroller’s office. The transaction must be completed during the holiday period.
The exemption applies item by item. An eligible shirt priced at $99 qualifies even when a shopper buys several, while an eligible item priced at $100 or more remains taxable. There is no general limit on the number of qualifying items a customer may purchase.
Student backpacks under $100 qualify, including backpacks with wheels and messenger bags used by students. A shopper may buy as many as 10 qualifying backpacks without providing an exemption certificate.
Many common school supplies qualify when priced below $100, including binders, notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, crayons, calculators, lunch boxes, rulers and scissors.
Items that generally do not qualify include computers, software, textbooks, jewelry, purses, handbags, luggage and certain athletic or protective equipment. Specially designed sports shoes and cleats also remain taxable, although general-purpose sneakers and walking shoes qualify.
Delivery, shipping and handling charges count toward the $100 threshold. For example, a qualifying item priced at $95 with a $10 delivery charge would be taxable because the total sales price is $105.
Shoppers who are incorrectly charged tax on an eligible purchase may ask the seller for a refund. The comptroller’s office maintains detailed lists of qualifying and nonqualifying items on its website.
