Tennesseans can shop for back to school items & more tax-free from July 31 to August 2.
Tennessee families will soon have an opportunity to stretch their back-to-school budgets as the state’s annual sales tax holiday returns at the end of July.Many thanks to Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly.
The tax-free weekend begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 31, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 2. During this three-day period, shoppers can purchase qualifying school supplies, clothing, and computers without paying state or local sales tax—resulting in savings of nearly 10 percent.
Now in its 20th year, the annual event has become a reliable way for families to prepare for the upcoming school year while easing financial pressure.
Eligible purchases include:
• Clothing priced at $100 or less per item
• School supplies priced at $100 or less per item
• Computers and tablets priced at $1,500 or less
The tax exemption also applies to qualifying online purchases, provided the items are intended for personal use rather than business purposes.
Governor Bill Lee highlighted the importance of the program, noting that Tennessee’s fiscal stewardship continues to create opportunities to return dollars to hardworking families. Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano added that the holiday has become a valued tradition for many households preparing for the school year.
Common qualifying items include clothing such as shirts, pants, shoes, and dresses, along with backpacks, binders, notebooks, crayons, pens, pencils, paper, laptops, and tablets.
However, not all items are tax-exempt. Products such as jewelry, handbags, sports and recreational equipment, separately sold computer software, printer supplies, and household appliances remain subject to sales tax.
State officials encourage families to review the full list of eligible and non-eligible items before shopping. More details are available at tntaxholiday.com.
Top 7 Back-to-School Essentials
• Backpacks: Durable and sized for daily school use.
• Notebooks and paper: Wide-ruled or college-ruled depending on grade level.
• Writing supplies: Pens, pencils, highlighters, and markers.
• Binders and folders: For organizing assignments and subjects.
• Clothing basics: Shirts, pants, and shoes within the $100 limit.
• Calculators: Especially for middle and high school students.
• Laptops or tablets: For homework, research, and digital learning (up to $1,500).
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