Arkansas: Does the state have a sales-tax-free weekend?
Arkansas holds a back-to-school sales tax holiday every year on the first weekend of August, covering state and local tax.
State law sets the holiday from the first Saturday in August through the following Sunday; in 2026 it was August 1 and 2. It covers clothing, clothing accessories, school supplies, school art and instructional materials, and electronic devices such as laptops, tablets and phones. The code text caps clothing at under $100 per item and accessories at under $50. The state says local sales taxes do not apply either.
Conditions
- First Saturday in August through the following Sunday
- Clothing under $100 per item; accessories under $50
What the law says
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday August 1, 2026, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday August 2, 2026, the State of Arkansas will hold its sales tax holiday allowing shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain Electronic Devices, School Supplies, School Art Supplies, School Instructional Materials, and Clothing free of state and local sales or use tax.
Sources
- Arkansas DFA: 2026 Sales Tax Holiday Official · dfa.arkansas.gov
- Ark. Code Ann. 26-52-444 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Sales and Use Tax Section
- Phone
- 501-682-1895
- Website
- dfa.arkansas.gov
How bordering states compare
- Louisiana Has a tax-free periodLouisiana holds a yearly Second Amendment Weekend in September, when firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies are free of state and local sales tax.
- Mississippi Has a tax-free periodYes. Mississippi holds a July back-to-school holiday and a late-August holiday for firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies.
- Missouri Has a tax-free periodYes. Missouri holds a back-to-school holiday each August and a Show Me Green holiday for Energy Star appliances each April.
- Oklahoma Has a tax-free periodOklahoma holds a sales tax holiday on the first weekend of August for clothing and footwear priced under $100.
- Tennessee Has a tax-free periodTennessee holds a yearly sales tax holiday on the last weekend of July for clothing, school supplies, and computers.
- Texas Has a tax-free periodTexas holds four yearly sales tax holidays: emergency supplies in April, Energy Star and water-saving products in May, and back-to-school in August.