Sales tax-free period in effect. Purchase school supplies, backpacks, and clothing without the usual sales tax burden.
The 2025 Texas Sales Tax Holiday is approaching, offering a great opportunity for parents and students to save on back-to-school essentials. This holiday takes place just before public health departments recommend vaccines, providing a convenient time for shopping.
During the holiday, most clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced under $100 will be exempt from sales tax. This exemption covers a wide range of items, including:
- Clothing and footwear: From shirts, skirts, coats, dresses, shorts, pants, jeans, hats, sneakers, socks, to children's costumes, scout uniforms, and certain work clothes.
- School supplies: Items like binders, blackboard chalk, calculators, cellophane tape, compasses, composition books, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, paste, paste sticks, book bags, and backpacks for elementary and secondary students.
Notably, the exemption applies only when each individual item is priced under $100, including any delivery or shipping fees.
However, some items are specifically excluded from the exemption, such as:
- Textbooks and software
- Computers and printers
- Jewelry, wallets, watches
- Handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, and umbrellas
- Items used to make or repair clothing (fabric, thread, yarn, patterns)
- Athletic gear such as cleated shoes, gloves, helmets, protective pads
- Prescription and non-prescription sunglasses
The exemption applies only for purchases made during the designated holiday period, August 8-10, 2025, either in-store in Texas or from online/catalog sellers doing business in Texas. No tax refunds are available for purchases made outside this window.
In addition to the sales tax holiday, the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton County's source for locally produced, fact-based journalism, encourages support through tax-deductible donations or low-cost subscriptions. Their commitment to delivering credible, relevant, unique coverage of the community is vital.
[1] Texas Comptroller's Office [2] Denton Record-Chronicle
- As the 2025 Texas Sales Tax Holiday approaches, families may find it convenient to shop for home-and-garden essentials, given the timeline coincides with the public health departments' vaccine recommendations.
- During the holiday, one can expect a variety of lifestyle changes, as items such as clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks will be exempt from sales tax, making it an opportune time for community members to revamp their home-and-garden spaces or upgrade their wardrobes.
