Texas: Does the state have a sales-tax-free weekend?
Texas holds four yearly sales tax holidays: emergency supplies in April, Energy Star and water-saving products in May, and back-to-school in August.
The back-to-school weekend in August covers clothing, shoes, backpacks, and listed school supplies under $100 each; in 2026 it was August 7 to 9. Emergency supplies such as generators (under $3,000) are tax-free from the Saturday before the last Monday in April through that Monday, and Energy Star appliances and water-efficient products are tax-free over Memorial Day weekend. The Comptroller has already posted the 2027 back-to-school dates, August 6 to 8. The official pages opened did not say whether local sales taxes also stop.
Conditions
- Back-to-school items under $100 each
- Emergency supplies: generators under $3,000, storm shutters and ladders under $300, other items under $75
- Energy Star air conditioners up to $6,000 and refrigerators up to $2,000
What the law says
(a) The sale of an article of clothing or footwear designed to be worn on or about the human body is exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter if: (1) the sales price of the article is less than $100; and (2) the sale takes place during a period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the Friday before the 15th day preceding the uniform date prescribed by Section 25.0811(a), Education Code ... and ending at 12 midnight on the following Sunday.
Sources
- Texas Tax Code § 151.326 (public.law) Mirror of official text · texas.public.law
- Texas Tax Code § 151.3565 (public.law) Mirror of official text · texas.public.law
- Texas Tax Code § 151.333 (public.law) Mirror of official text · texas.public.law
- Texas Comptroller: Sales Tax Holiday (Publication 98-490) Official · comptroller.texas.gov
- Texas Comptroller: Sales Tax Holidays FAQ Official · comptroller.texas.gov
- Federation of Tax Administrators: 2026 Sales Tax Holidays Secondary · taxadmin.org
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Phone
- 800-252-5555
- Website
- comptroller.texas.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arkansas Has a tax-free periodArkansas holds a back-to-school sales tax holiday every year on the first weekend of August, covering state and local tax.
- 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.
- New Mexico Has a tax-free periodNew Mexico holds an annual back-to-school gross receipts tax holiday over a weekend in late July or early August.
- Oklahoma Has a tax-free periodOklahoma holds a sales tax holiday on the first weekend of August for clothing and footwear priced under $100.