The 2025 sales tax holiday in Texas began Friday and continues through midnight Sunday. During this annual event, the state of Texas suspends the need for sellers doing business in Texas to garner the 8.25% tax on certain items for the three-day period.
The sales tax holiday in Texas dates back to 1999 when the first weekend geared towards sales tax exemptions for clothing, footwear and school supplies ahead of the beginning of the school year was held.
“From its inception in 1999, when the Comptroller’s office estimated $32.6 million in combined state and local sales tax savings, Texas’ oldest sales tax holiday has saved shoppers an estimated $1.8 billion to date on qualified items priced below $100,” information on the State Comptroller’s Office website says.
“That includes a projected $143.4 million in state and local sales tax savings during this year’s holiday, Aug. 9-11. Apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax free are listed on the Comptroller’s website at TexasTaxHoliday.org. As long as the item is sold during the designated days, you can get the tax break on items purchased in stores and online, or by phone, mail, custom order and other means.”
The sales tax holiday was approved during the 76th Texas Legislative session.
“The original exemption was only for clothing and footwear priced less than $100,” the website says. “The Legislature expanded the holiday to include exemption of school backpacks in 2007 and added school supplies in 2009.
“The Texas Legislature didn’t stop there. Lawmakers have approved tax holidays for emergency preparation supplies in April as well as for Energy Star and water-efficient products on Memorial Day weekend. Although each holiday has specific guidelines, buyers don’t need a special exemption certificate to buy items tax free.”
Tax free items can be purchased in-store, online or from a catalog and only applies to qualifying items.
Those items are listed as clothing, footwear and school supplies. These can include face masks, and layaway items do not apply.
“Delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges by the seller are part of the item’s sales price,” the website says about the exemption only for items under $100.
“Since clothing, backpacks and school supplies have to be less than $100 to qualify, you have to look at the item’s total sales price to determine if you can buy it tax free.
“For example, you buy a pair of jeans for $95 with a $10 delivery charge for a total price of $105. Because the jeans’ total price is more than $100, tax is due on the entire $105 price.”
Purchasers also have to be aware if items have a delivery charge per item billed or if the delivery charge is only calculated once.
“If the delivery charge is a flat rate per package, and the amount charged is the same regardless of how many items are included in the package, the total charge can be attributed to any one of the items in the package,” the State Comptroller says.
The following school supplies qualify for the sales tax holiday:
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
Kits*
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
* For kits of school supplies that contain exempt items, as well as taxable ones, the taxability depends on the value of exempt or taxable items in it. There is no limit on the quantity of school supplies in a kit, but if the value of the exempt items is more than the taxable ones, the kit is exempt. If the value of the taxable items is more than the exempt ones, then the kit is taxable.
The following clothing and footwear items are marked with whether they are taxable or exempt:
The items on this list that qualify for exemption from tax during the sales tax holiday must be priced under $100. Items that do not qualify for exemption are also included.
(T) = Taxable; (E) = Exempt
Accessories (generally) (T)Barrettes (T)
Belt buckles (sold separately) (T)
Bobby pins (T)
Briefcases (T)
Elastic ponytail holders (T)
Hair bows (T)
Hair clips (T)
Handbags (T)
Handkerchiefs (T)
Headbands (T)
Jewelry (T)
Key cases (T)
Purses (T)
Wallets (T)
Watch bands (T)
Watches (T)
Adult diapers (E)
Alterations (T)
Aprons (household) (E)
Aprons (welders) (T)
Athletic socks (E)
Baby bibs (E)
Baby clothes (E)
Baby diapers (cloth or disposable) (E)
Backpacks (unless for use by elementary/secondary students) (T)
Baseball accessories
Baseball caps (E)
Baseball cleats (T)
Baseball gloves (T)
Baseball jerseys (E)
Baseball pants (T)
Bathing caps (T)
Belt buckles (T)
Belts with attached buckles (E)
Belts for weight lifting (T)
Bicycle shoes (cleated) (T)
Blouses (E)
Boots (general purpose) (E)Climbing (cleated or spiked) (T)
Cowboy (E)
Fishing (waders) (T)
Hiking (E)
Overshoes and galoshes (T)
Rubber work boots (T)
Ski (T)
Waders (T)
Bow ties (E)
Bowling shirts (E)
Bowling shoes (rented and sold) (T)
Bras (E)
Buttons and zippers (T)
Camp clothes (E)
Caps (baseball, fishing, golf) (E)
Chef uniforms (E)
Children’s novelty costumes (E)
Chest protectors (T)
Clerical vestments (E)
Cloth and lace, knitting yarns, and other fabrics (T)
Clothing repair items, such as thread, buttons, tapes, and iron-on patches (T)
Coats and wraps (E)
Corsages and boutonnieres (T)
Coveralls (E)
Diapers (cloth and disposable) (E)
Dresses (E)
Dry cleaning services (T)
EarmuffsCold weather (E)
Noise cancellation or noise cancelling (T)
Elbow pads (T)
Embroidery (T)
Employee uniforms (unless rented) (E)
Fabrics, thread, buttons, lace, patterns, knitting yarns (T)
Fins (swim) (T)
Fishing boots (waders) (T)
Fishing caps (E)
Fishing vests (non-flotation) (E)
Football accessoriesFootball jerseys (E)
Football pads (T)
Football pants (T)
Gloves (generally) (E)Baseball (T)
Batting (T)
Bicycle (T)
Dress (unless rented) (E)
Garden (T)
Golf (T)
Hockey (T)
Leather (E)
Rubber (T)
Surgical (T)
Tennis (T)
Work (T)
Goggles (T)
Golf accessoriesGolf caps (E)
Golf dresses (E)
Golf gloves (T)
Golf jackets and windbreakers (E)
Golf shirts (E)
Golf skirts (E)
Golf purses (T)
Golf shoes (T)
Graduation caps and gowns (E)
Gym suits and uniforms (E)
Hair nets, bows, clips, and barrettes (T)
Handbags and purses (T)
Handkerchiefs (T)
Hard hats (T)
Hats (E)
Headbands (T)
Helmets (bike, baseball, football, hockey, motorcycle, sports) (T)
Hockey gloves (T)
Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts (E)
Hosiery, including support hosiery (E)
Hunting vests (E)
Ice skates (T)
Insoles (T)
Jackets (E)
Jeans (E)
Jewelry (T)
Jogging apparel (E)
Knee pads (T)
Knitted caps or hats (E)
Laundering services (T)
Leg warmers (E)
Leotards and tights (E)
Life jackets and vests (T)
Luggage (T)
Mask, costume (E)
Mask, cloth and disposable fabric face masks (E)
Mask, protective – N95, welder, umpire, swim or other similar personal protection equipment (T)
Monogramming services (T)
Neckwear and ties (E)
Nightgowns and nightshirts (E)
Overshoes and rubber shoes (T)
Pads (football, hockey, soccer, elbow, knee, shoulder) (T)
Paint or dust respirators and incidental supplies (T)
Painter pants (E)
Pajamas (E)
Pants (E)
Panty hose (E)
Patterns (T)
Personal flotation devices (T)
Pocket squares (T)
Protective gloves (T)
Protective masks (T)
Raincoats and ponchos (E)
Rain hats (E)
Religious clothing (E)
Rented clothing (including uniforms, formal wear, and costumes) (T)
Repair of clothing or footwear (T)
Ribbons (T)
Robes (E)
Roller blades (T)
Roller skates (T)
Safety accessoriesSafety clothing (normally worn in hazardous occupations) (T)
Safety glasses (except prescription) (T)
Safety shoes (adaptable for street wear) (E)
Safety shoes (not adaptable for street wear) (T)
Scarves (E)
Scout uniforms (E)
Sewing patterns (T)
Shawls and wraps (E)
Shin guards and padding (T)
Shirts (E)
Shirts (hooded) (E)
Shoe inserts (T)
Shoelaces (T)
Shoes (generally) (E)Ballet (T)
Baseball cleats (T)
Bicycle (cleated) (T)
Boat (E)
Bowling (T)
Cleated or spiked (T)
Cross trainers (E)
Dress (E)
Fishing boots (waders) (T)
Flip-flops (rubber thongs) (E)
Football (T)
Golf (T)
Jazz and dance (T)
Jellies (E)
Overshoes (T)
Running (without cleats) (E)
Safety (suitable for everyday use) (E)
Sandals (E)
Slippers (E)
Sneakers and tennis (E)
Soccer (cleated) (T)
Spiked or cleated (T)
Tap dance (T)
Tennis (E)
Track and cleats (T)
Wading/water sport (T)
Walking (E)
Shoe shines (T)
Shoe repairs (T)
Shoulder pads (for dresses, jackets, etc.) (T)
Shoulder pads (football, hockey, sports) (T)
Shorts (E)
Shower caps (T)
Skates (ice and roller) (T)
Ski boots (snow) (T)
Ski suits (snow) (T)
Ski vests (water) (T)
Skirts (E)
Sleepwear, nightgowns, pajamas (E)
Slippers (E)
Slips (E)
Soccer socks (E)
Socks (E)
Sports helmets (T)
Sports pads (football, hockey, soccer, knee, elbow, shoulder) (T)
Suits, slacks, and jackets (E)
Sunglasses (except prescription) (T)
Support hosiery (E)
Suspenders (E)
Sweatbands (arm, wrist, head) (T)
Sweatshirts (E)
Sweat suits (E)
Sweaters (E)
Swimming masks and goggles (T)
Swimsuits (E)
Tennis accessoriesTennis dresses (E)
Tennis shorts (E)
Tennis shoes (E)
Tennis skirts (E)
Ties (neckties – all) (E)
Tights (E)
Track shoes and cleats (T)
Trousers (E)
Umbrellas (T)
Underclothes (E)
Underpants (E)
Undershirts (E)
Uniforms (school, work, nurse, waitress, military, postal, police, fire) (E)
Veils (E)
Vests (generally) (E)Bulletproof (T)
Fishing (non-flotation) (E)
Flotation (T)
Hunting (E)
Scuba (T)
Water-ski (T)
Wallets (T)
Watch bands (T)
Watches (T)
Water ski vests (T)
Weight lifting belts (T)
Wet and dry suits (T)
Work clothes (E)
Work uniforms (E)
Workout clothes (E)
Wrist bands (T)
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