When is 2024 tax free weekend in Texas? What you need to know to save on school supplies

Marley Malenfant , Austin American-Statesman
·3 min read

Parents will soon get their children back on a morning routine as the time for kids to return to school approaches.

And with tax-free weekend approaching, parents can save a little on school supplies and clothes.

Here is what you need to know about tax-free weekend in Texas.

When is tax-free weekend in Texas?

This year’s sale tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 9, and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 11.

The sales tax holiday exempts qualifying items from sales tax when purchased between those days.

More: When does school start in August? Mark your calendar for Austin-area's first day of school

What will be tax-free?

During tax-free weekend, most shoes, clothes and school supplies are sold tax-free as long as they are less than $100. There is no limit on the number of eligible items you can buy.

Here are school-related tools that are tax-free, according to the Texas comptroller.

School Supplies

  • Binders

  • Blackboard chalk

  • Book bags

  • Calculators

  • Cellophane tape

  • Compasses

  • Composition books

  • Crayons

  • Erasers

  • Folders – expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila

  • Glue, paste and paste sticks

  • Highlighters

  • Index cards

  • Index card boxes

  • Legal pads

  • Lunch boxes

  • Markers (including dry erase markers)

  • Notebooks

  • Paper – loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper

  • Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes

  • Pencil sharpeners

  • Pencils

  • Pens

  • Protractors

  • Rulers

  • Scissors

  • Writing tablets

Clothing, footwear and other items

  • Shirts and blouses

  • Pants and jeans

  • Dresses and skirts

  • Jackets and coats

  • Shoes, boots, and sandals

  • Socks and hosiery Underwear

  • Sleepwear

  • Hats and caps Scarves and gloves

  • Uniforms (sports, scouts, etc.)

What will not be tax-free?

  • Items sold for $100 or more

  • Clothing subscription boxes

  • Specially-designed athletic activity or protective-use clothing or footwear

  • Items used to make or repair clothing, such as fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks and zippers

  • Jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches and other accessories

  • Computers

  • Software

  • Textbooks

  • Framed backpacks

  • Luggage

  • Briefcases

  • Athletic, duffle or gym bags

  • Computer bags

  • Purses

Does Texas tax-free weekend work online?

During the sales tax holiday, qualifying items can be purchased in-store, online, by mail, or by any other method, as long as the sale occurs within the designated three-day period.

For instance, if a buyer enters their credit card information on an online shopping website on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. to buy qualifying school supplies, the purchase will still qualify for the exemption even if the items are shipped on Friday, August 16, 2024, and arrive on Tuesday, August 20.

What's on your school supply list?

TeacherLists, a digital platform for school supply lists, has a partnership with H-E-B locations throughout Texas to provide lists in-store.

Not near an H-E-B? Several other retailers provide school supply lists, including Walmart, Target, Staples, Office Depot and Walgreens.

Can't find your child's school supply list? Reach out to your school district.

How to request a sales tax holiday refund in Texas

If you pay sales tax on qualifying items during the sales tax holiday, you can request a refund from the seller. The seller can either issue the refund directly or provide you with Form 00-985, Assignment of Right to Refund, allowing you to file the refund claim directly with the Comptroller's office.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: When is tax free weekend 2024 in Texas? See qualifying school supplies