It's here! Texas Tax-Free Weekend. The Texas Tax-Free Weekend is today, Friday, August 10 through Sunday, August 13. It's the perfect weekend to stock up on things the kids need and save money at the same time. But, oh there is always a "but"...not everything is Tax-Free this weekend.  Here is how to navigate through what is taxed and what is not.

This law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 from sales taxes, which can save you about 8%.

Of course, not everything is tax-free, that would be too good to be true. According to the  Texas Tax-Free website,

The exemption applies to each eligible item that sells for less than $100, regardless of how many items are sold on the same invoice to a customer.

Check out the list below from the Texas Tax Comptroller's office to find out what qualifies for Tax-Free and what DOES NOT.

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)
  • Earmuffs
    • Cold 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 accessories
    • Football 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 accessories
    • Golf 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, protective - welder, umpire, swim (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 accessories
    • Safety 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 accessories
    • Tennis 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)

For information on layaways and school supplies go to https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-490/

 

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