Texans can save money on clothing, school supplies, and more during the 2025 statewide sales tax holiday running Friday, August 8 through Sunday, August 10.

Texans can expect to save over $133 million in state and local taxes during the sales tax holiday this year, according to Kelly Hancock, the Acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. That translates to a savings of about $8 for every $100 spent on qualifying items.

"Back-to-school costs can add up fast," Hancock said during his visit to a Midland Sam's Club. "Texans have saved more than $2 billion since this tradition began in 1999, and we’re glad to keep it operating."

A recent survey from Bank of America shows 60 percent of people are planning to tap into discounted online shopping over 2025 Tax-Free Weekend.

Qualifying tax-free purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order as long as they take place between August 8-10. Shoppers should also be aware that rain checks given during the tax-free weekend won't qualify an item for a future tax exemption.

Online shoppers should additionally note that a retailer's delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges all factor into an item's sales price. An example provided by the Comptroller's website is as follows: "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."

These are CultureMap's top tips for how shoppers can save during the upcoming tax holiday.

Saving on school supplies
The Texas Comptroller's website provides a specific list of school supplies that will be exempt from tax during the weekend. Most items priced under $100 will qualify, unless otherwise specified, and as long as the customer isn't buying in bulk.

The school supplies that qualify for the tax exemption are:

• Binders
• Blackboard chalk
• Book bags and lunch boxes
• Calculators
• Cellophane tape
• Compasses, protractors, and rulers
• Composition books, legal pads, and notebooks
• Folders – including expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila folders
• Glue, paste, and glue sticks
• Index cards and index card boxes
• Paper – including loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, construction paper, and poster board
• Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
• Scissors
• Writing utensils – including pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, highlighters, markers, dry erase markers, crayons, and erasers
• Writing tablets

School supply kits are also exempt from taxes, and while there is no limit on the number of school supplies in kits, certain kits that contain both taxable and tax-free items will have a taxability that depends on the value of the items. According to the Texas Comptroller, if the value of the exempt items is worth more than the taxable items, the kit will be tax free. However, if the value of the taxable items comes out to more than the exempt items, then the kit will be taxed.

Additionally, student backpacks that are sold for less than $100 – including backpacks with wheels and messenger bags – will be tax free. However, if a customer is purchasing more than 10 backpacks tax-free at one time, they will have to present the seller with an exemption certificate.

Saving on clothing, footwear and other items
The Texas Comptroller has a detailed guide online to help shoppers determine the taxability on clothing, footwear, and other items. Most footwear and clothing items that are sold for less than $100 are exempt from tax, with no limit on the number of qualifying items as long as they ring up for under $100.

The website says both cloth and disposable fabric face masks "meet the definition of an article of clothing" and will be tax free, and that includes face masks that are sold with a filter. However, the site clarifies that industrial or medical grade masks (like N95s) and replacement filters will still be taxed.

"Diapers — both cloth and disposable — are also exempt from sales tax, and certain sanitizers and wipes with a drug facts label are tax-free year-round," the press release says.

Non-qualifying items that will still be taxed
Any items that are sold for $100 or more will still be taxed. Additional items that do NOT qualify for a tax exemption include:

• Accessories – such as jewelry, handbags, umbrellas, watches, wallets, and more
• Any unspecified school supplies that are NOT on the exemption list above
• Baggage – such as framed backpacks, luggage, briefcases, purses, computer bags, duffle bags, and athletic/gym bags
• Clothing cleaning services, embroidery services, and alterations
• Clothing or footwear rentals
• Clothing subscription boxes
• Computers and software
• Items used to make or repair clothing – such as fabric, thread, zippers, buttons, snaps, hooks, and yarn
• Specifically designed sports shoes, protective-use clothing, and athletic gear – such as cleats, shoulder pads, dance shoes, helmets, shin guards, and others
• Textbooks