The Texas Sales Tax Holiday 2025 will begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, and continue through midnight Sunday, Aug. 10. For three days, Texans will not have to pay sales tax on a wide range of goods, making the annual tax holiday a welcome break for families preparing for the back-to-school season. Purchases qualify whether made in person, by phone, by mail order, or on an online shopping website, provided payment is completed during the weekend.
Most everyday clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt. Shoppers can also buy qualifying school supplies, such as notebooks, pencils, school art supplies, printer supplies, school computer supplies, and instructional material, without being charged tax. Items for protective use, clothing, and learning aids like graphing calculators are also included.
The exemption applies only if each item’s sales price is under $100. Shipping and handling count toward the total. For example, a $95 pair of shoes with $10 shipping would exceed the limit and require you to pay sales tax. There is no limit on the number of items sold, but each product must meet the price cap to qualify for the exemption.
Excluded categories include firearms, archery accessories and equipment, hunting supplies, sports equipment, zippers, jewelry, and special clothing designed primarily for athletic activity.
The holiday also extends to certain emergency preparation supplies, including portable generators, emergency ladders, hurricane shutters, camping stoves, fluorescent light bulbs, ceiling fans, and hurricane preparedness items.
Energy-efficient products, such as clothes washers, Energy Star appliances, water-conserving products, light bulbs, and moisture-control items, may also qualify. Many of these are intended to reduce household costs while supporting conservation efforts like limiting water evaporation, recharging water tables, retaining groundwater, and decreasing ambient air temperature.
The sales tax holiday was introduced in 1999 to help families stretch their budgets during the costly back-to-school period. Over time, it has become one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, boosting retail sales across the state.
State leaders have continued the program during years of budget surplus, pointing to its popularity with parents and educators. Military families and National Guard members often plan larger purchases for the weekend to maximize savings.
“The Comptroller’s office encourages Texans to support local businesses while saving money on qualifying school supplies, clothing, and footwear items sold tax-free during the annual weekend,” the agency stated in its July 2025 Tax Policy News update.
Officials added that items sold during the three days only qualify. If tax is mistakenly charged, shoppers may file a refund claim directly with the retailer or submit a formal refund claim with the Comptroller’s office.
Texans should plan, review the list of qualifying items, and confirm that each product’s sales price stays below the $100 cap. Shoppers should also keep receipts from both in-store and online shopping purchases. Entering credit card information within the holiday period is key to ensuring online orders qualify.
Suppose a retailer incorrectly charges tax on clothing, footwear, emergency preparation supplies, or qualifying school supplies. Customers may request a refund directly from the store or file a refund claim with the state. The Comptroller’s office provides detailed guidance on how to complete this process.
The weekend brings a surge in retail sales for retailers. Stores are urged to confirm which supplies, protective use clothing, sports equipment, and special clothing qualify under the law to avoid misapplying the exemption.
Shoppers can review the complete list of qualifying items and FAQs at the Comptroller’s official site:
Both resources provide authoritative details on what Texans can buy tax-free during the Texas Sales Tax Holiday 2025, including school supplies, emergency preparation supplies, and clothing and footwear that qualify for the exemption.
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