When is tax-free weekend in Tennessee? Here's what's exempt and what's not

Jacob Wilt, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·4 min read

Tennessee's tax-free weekend is nearly here, giving residents a chance to save on clothes, school supplies and devices that have sat on the shopping list for a while.

Arkansas' tax-free weekend will directly follow Tennessee's and includes some additional exemptions not available in the Volunteer State.

Here's everything you need to know to save this weekend and the next.

When does Tennessee's tax-free weekend start?

The tax-free weekend in Tennessee is the last full weekend of July. It begins at exactly at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

What if I can't go shopping this weekend?

Memphis-area residents will have a second chance to save if they miss this weekend's sale, if they're willing to travel a bit. Arkansas's tax-free weekend begins the following weekend at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, and ends on Sunday, Aug. 4.

What clothing items will be tax-free in Tennessee?

Most clothing will be tax-free, though all items bought must be $100 or less per item. The following types of clothing are exempt:

  • Shirts

  • Pants

  • Socks

  • Shoes

  • Dresses

  • Belts

  • Hats

  • Underwear

  • Gloves and Mittens

  • Scarves and Neckware

  • Uniforms (athletic or non-athletic)

Items which will not be exempt from taxes include:

  • Items sold together, like shoes and full uniforms, cannot be split to stay under $100.

  • Jewelry

  • Handbags

  • Separately sold belt buckles, patches and emblems

  • Sewing equipment and supplies

  • Protective equipment

What school supplies will be tax-free in Tennessee?

The vast majority of school supplies will be exempt this weekend, but once again, must be under $100 per item. Examples of exempt items include:

  • Binders and Notebooks

  • Backpacks

  • Lunchboxes

  • Crayons

  • Paper

  • Scissors

  • Tape

  • Pencils and Pens

  • Rulers

  • Calculators

  • Clay

  • Paint and Paintbrushes

  • Chalk

  • Drawing pads

These items are not exempt from taxes:

  • School-issued instructional materials

  • School computer supplies

  • Sports and recreational equipment

What computer devices will be tax-free in Tennessee?

This category is a little more strict. Eligible personal-use computers or laptops must have a purchase price of $1,500 or less. The computer or laptop must be pre-built — meaning internal components like the processor or hard drive, as well as additional accessories like keyboards and speakers, must come pre-packaged and sold as a complete unit. No building a PC from scratch this weekend.

These items will not be exempt from taxes:

  • Computer components sold separately like monitors, speakers, keyboards, webcams, etc.

  • Storage devices like flash drives, CDs, etc.

  • Individually purchased software

  • Printers and printer supplies like ink cartridges

  • Household appliances like sound systems

  • E-readers

  • Game consoles

Does tax-free weekend work online?

Any online purchases of exempt items will also be tax-free on any website in Tennessee — shoppers do not need to make their purchases in person, as long as the shipping address is in-state. This means Tennessee residents looking to save on Arkansas's tax-free weekend will need to make their purchases in-person. The same goes for Arkansas residents.

What is Tennessee's usual tax-rate?

Though Tennessee is one of only seven states which does not have an individual income tax, it remains a state with one of, if not the highest tax rate in the nation, when accounting for combined state and local taxes, according to TurboTax. The state's general tax rate is 7%, and when combined with local taxes, reaches an average of 9.5%. The largest possible sales tax in the state is even higher, at 9.75%.

What items are exempt in Arkansas that are not exempt in Tennessee?

Arkansas has a few more tax exemptions for specific items compared to Tennessee. Certain clothing accessories under $50 per item "worn on the person or in conjunction with clothing," are exempt. Additionally, some electronic items "commonly used by a student in a course of study," are tax-free.

Exempt clothing accessories or equipment in Arkansas:

  • Briefcases

  • Cosmetics

  • Hair notions, including barrettes, hair bows and hair nets

  • Handbags

  • Handkerchiefs

  • Jewelry

  • Sunglasses (non-prescription)

  • Umbrellas

  • Wallets

  • Watches

  • Wigs and hair pieces

Exempt school supplies in Arkansas:

  • Reference books

  • Reference maps

  • Textbooks

  • Workbooks

Exempt electronic items in Arkansas:

  • Cell phones

  • Computer mice

  • Monitors

  • Keyboards

  • Printers

  • Tablets

  • E-readers

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: When does Tennessee's tax-free weekend start? Here's what's exempt