Tax-free holidays 2025: Back-to-school sales tax weekends launch in these states

Nine states are kicking off tax-free holidays this weekend —as back-to-school inflation hits hard and families rush to lock in savings.Why it matters: It's a rare tax break for families preparing for a new school year and dealing with higher prices because of President Trump's tariffs.Four states — Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico and Tennessee — held tax holidays in July, and four more tax-free breaks are held later in August.The big picture: Retailers like Walmart and Target are freezing or lowering prices on select items to court budget-conscious shoppers.Looming tariffs on Chinese imports — including tech and school supplies — are expected to drive prices up 12–15% this season, according to retail analysts.What they're saying: "With uncertainty around costs this fall, both shoppers and retailers are trying to lock in value now while they can," Stephanie Carls, RetailMeNot retail insights expert, told Axios.Mary Hines Droesch, head of consumer and wealth management products at Bank of America, tells Axios, that spreading out purchases can help consumers avoid impulse buys and lets families catch late-season deals.Sales tax holidays 2025 include online ordersSales tax is waived for in-store purchases and online shopping during the holidays, but exclusions apply.Arkansas tax-free weekend 2025Arkansas holds its annual sales tax holiday on the first weekend of August each year for two days — Saturday and Sunday.Tax-free items:Clothing and shoes: Less than $100 per item.Clothing accessories or equipment: Less than $50 per item.School supplies and electronic devices used by students for study are also included, the state said.Florida sales tax holiday 2025The Sunshine State's annual sales tax holiday is now a monthlong tax break every August.Tax-free items:Clothing, footwear and accessories: $100 or less.Most school supplies: $50 or less.Computers and accessories for personal use: $1,500 or less.Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles: $30 or less.Iowa sales tax holiday weekend 2025The Hawkeye State's tax holiday is held annually on the first weekend in August and lasts two days, Friday and Saturday.No state or local option sales tax will be collected on clothing or footwear less than $100, according to the state.Missouri tax-free weekend 2025Missouri's annual three-day tax holiday runs Friday through Sunday, Aug. 3, per the state.Tax-free items:Clothing: $100 or less.Personal computers and computer peripheral devices: Up to $1,500 and software up to $350.School supplies: Not to exceed $50 per purchase, graphing calculators up to $150.Ohio expanded sales tax holiday 2025Ohio expanded its annual sales tax holiday into a two-week event, which ends at 11:59pm Aug. 14.The sales tax holiday includes "all tangible personal property that is $500 or less," including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, sporting goods, food and more.Oklahoma sales tax holiday 2025Oklahoma's three-day sales tax holiday is held the first Friday through Sunday in August annually.Tax-free items:Clothing and footwear: Less than $100.South Carolina tax-free weekend 2025The annual sales tax holiday in South Carolina is Friday through Sunday, Aug. 3 and exempts eligible purchases from the 6% state tax and local taxes.Tax-free items:Regardless of price, all computers, printers, school supplies, clothing and accessories, shoes and certain bed and bath items.Virginia sales tax holiday 2025Virginia's three-day sales tax holiday — Friday through Sunday — waives tax on school supplies, clothing, footwear, emergency preparedness items as well as select appliances.Tax-free items:Clothing and footwear: $100 or less per item.School supplies: $20 or less.West Virginia sales tax holiday 2025West Virginia's sales tax holiday runs Friday through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, the state says.Tax-free items:Clothing: $125 or less.Laptop and tablet computers: $500 or less.School supplies: $50 or less.School instruction material: $20 or less.Sports equipment: $150 or less.Upcoming sales tax holidaysWhat's next: More tax holidays are coming next weekend and beyond.Texas holds a three-day tax holiday, Aug. 8-10.Massachusetts has a two-day holiday Aug. 9-10 and Maryland has its tax week Aug. 10-16.Connecticut's sales tax week runs Aug. 17-23.More from Axios:Tariffs are coming for your breakfast — but not your OJAmazon CEO says prices steady despite tariff riskRetailers launch Halloween early amid tariff fears

Comments

World news

Third Heathrow runway means ‘inevitable’ ticket price hikes, passengers warned

The i Paper

Comments

World news

Third Heathrow runway means ‘inevitable’ ticket price hikes, passengers warned

How to grow your own blueberries – and save a fortune on supermarket prices

Three chef-approved recipes for summer evenings, from lobster salad to club sarnies

How to cut out UPFs and reduce your shopping bill, according to The Batch Lady

Five indoor activities everyone should do over summer (without feeling guilty)

Why Starmer’s Gaza move is ‘too little too late’ to counter Corbyn’s threat

Starmer has forgotten the human rights lawyer he used to be with his Palestine plan

UK beef and milk ‘at risk’ as farmers in row with Miliband over methane cuts

I moved to the lesser-known part of southern Spain untouched by mass tourism

Six European holiday hotspots loved by locals, without British tourist crowds

'My neighbours made a petition to get rid of my dogs so kids can play in my garden'

Watch: Hot dog spill clogs US highway

A tug of war between planes and kites in Indonesia's skies

Manhunt under way after 4 killed in Montana bar shooting

Hot dog spill shuts down Pennsylvania highway

Animal shelters surge with abandoned pets after owners are detained or deported in ICE immigration raids

Columbia Sportswear sues Columbia University claiming merchandise is too similar and causes confusion

Not just Big Bird: What to know about the Center for Public Broadcasting and its funding cuts

Project Gaslight extortion arsonist pleads guilty to torching Edmonton homes

Bombers break out of losing streak with 40-31 win over Argos

'I died for seven minutes in hospital - here's exactly what I saw on the other side'

And Just Like That... Sex and the City reboot's third season to be its last

Photos From a Gaza Airdrop

A Bid to Undo a Colonial-Era Wrong Touches a People’s Old Wounds

Caffeine craze warning after pouches gain in popularity with teens

Mystery grows as California mom-of-four and 8-month-old daughter remain missing after two week search

AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

Witt, Wacha pace Royals in 9-3 win over Jays

Chess grandmaster Carlsen wins at Esports World Cup

After a blown deadline, what next for US-Canada trade?

‘Fire clouds’ springing up around the Grand Canyon

El Salvador's Congress approves indefinite presidential reelection and extends presidential terms to 6 years

Thailand returns 2 wounded soldiers to Cambodia but continues to hold 18 of their comrades

Attacks in China and Japan raise concerns about xenophobia in both countries

Putin says Russia's hypersonic missile has entered service and will be deployed in Belarus

Two pubs claim to be London's oldest riverside pub. Which one is right?

Colombian ex-President Álvaro Uribe is sentenced to 12 years house arrest for bribery

Alleged leader of Mexican kidnapping ring released after nearly 20 years in prison

Court limits Italy's fast-track return of rejected asylum seekers to 'safe' countries

Mali's ex-prime minister is arrested for supporting jailed critics of the ruling military junta

Tax-free holidays 2025: Back-to-school sales tax weekends launch in these states

Russian tourists are holidaying at a new North Korean seaside resort - but what's it really like?

Bieber excited to join Jays, return to mound

Winnipeg’s summer of smoke filled with toxins

Dry July: Metro Vancouver got half the precipitation it usually does last month

As Trump hikes tariffs, B.C. jobs minister urges Carney to ‘negotiate hard’

Twelve years house arrest for Colombian ex-leader Álvaro Uribe

They escaped Ukraine's frontlines. The sound of drones followed them

North Korea sent me abroad to be a secret IT worker. My wages funded the regime

Jeremy Bowen: 'Thank you, but it's too late': Why some Palestinians aren't convinced by Starmer's promise

Trump fires lead official on economic data as tariffs cause market drop

Jane Austen Fans Celebrate the Beloved English Author's 250th Birthday

Commercial boat owners say Kelowna city fees unfair, bad for tourism

Tesla must pay $329 million for a deadly crash involving Autopilot, jury says

Murdered ‘American Idol’ executive met with the police one day prior as new details emerge on deadly break-in

‘First Amendment has limits’: Tom Homan insists that Mahmoud Khalil will be deported

‘Revolving door’ between ICE and private prison companies is boosting Trump’s deportation plans

Tennessee death row inmate with pacemaker can be executed despite likelihood heart device will prolong suffering: court

Woman faces more than $20,000 in medical bills after wild bat flies into her mouth

The World Reacts to Trump’s Aug. 1 Tariff War

Jeremy Bowen: 'Thank you, but it's too late': Why some Palestinians aren't convinced by Starmer's promise