The Texas sales tax holiday includes clothing, footwear and backpacks. Dollar limits are per item. Qualifying products put into layaway during the sales tax holiday will not be taxed.
Neighboring states Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma also offer sales tax holidays for back-to-school shoppers.
Texas Sales Tax Holiday Dates
August 21-23, 2009Clothing Exempt from Texas Sales Tax
These qualifying items must cost under $100:- Athletic Socks
- Baby Clothes
- Belts With Attached Buckles
- Blouses
- Caps and Hats
- Coats and Wraps
- Coveralls
- Diapers (adult and baby, cloth and disposable)
- Dresses
- Gloves (general use)
- Graduation Caps and Gowns
- Gym Suits and Jogging Suits
- Hooded Shirts and Sweatshirts
- Hosiery
- Jackets
- Jeans
- Leg Warmers
- Leotards and Tights
- Neckwear
- Pants
- Rainwear
- Scout Uniforms
- Shirts
- Shorts
- Skirts
- Sleepwear
- Socks
- Sweaters
- Swimsuits
- Undergarments
- Uniforms
Footwear Exempt from Texas Sales Tax
Shoes under $100 are free from tax if they are:- Boat Shoes
- Cowboy Books
- Cross Trainers
- Dress Shoes
- Flip-Flops
- Hiking Boots
- Jellies
- Safety Shoes (as street wear)
- Sandals
- Shoes (general)
- Slippers
- Sneakers
- Tennis Shoes
- Walking Shoes
School Supplies Exempt from Sales Tax
In 2009, Texas added school supplies under $100 to its list of tax free items for the first time in 10 years, including:- Binders
- Blackboard Chalk
- Book Bags
- Calculators
- Cellophane Tape
- Compasses
- Composition Books
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Folders (expandable, manila, plastic and pocket)
- Glue, Paste and Paste Sticks
- Highlighters
- Index Cards
- Index Card Boxes
- Legal Pads
- Lunch Boxes
- Markers
- Notebooks
- Paper (loose-leaf ruled notebook paper, colored, construction, copy, graph, manila, tracing paper and poster board)
- Pencil Boxes and Other School Supply Boxes
- Pencil Sharpeners
- Pencils
- Pens
- Protractors
- Rules
- Scissors
- Writing Tablets
Backpacks Exempt from Sales Tax
Backpacks less than $100 that will be used by elementary and secondary school students are not taxable. The state of Texas has special rules regarding backpacks. A backpack must have straps. Backpacks with wheels are eligible for the sales tax holiday as long as they can also be worn on the back.Taxable Items
Cleats, hair accessories, handbags, helmets, jewelry and safety clothing are sample items not eligible for the sales tax holiday.More States With Sales Tax Holidays
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
