Sales Tax FAQs
Explore commonly asked questions about sales and use tax. A great starting place to learn about fundamental sales tax concepts and general applications to business.
As of 1/1/2026
A sales tax holiday is a limited-time period where a state allows sales tax to be waived or reduced on categories of items. These holidays are short in duration and are limited to the items listed. Annual holidays are recurring under the legislation. Non-annual holidays require legislation each year.
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How to use this chart:This chart will keep you updated on sales tax holidays in your state! Find the state you’re looking for to see recent, current, or upcoming sales tax holidays. Not all states hold sales tax holidays. For a handy chart of holiday information and key facts by state, select a jurisdiction. |
| State | Type | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Severe Weather Sales Tax Holiday | February 20, 2026 - February 22, 2026 | No state sales or use tax is due on certain items you may purchase to deal with severe weather (Act 2012-256, Rule 810-6-3-.66). See here for the counties and municipalities that have notified ALDOR of their decision to participate or not participate in the holiday. |
| Alabama | Back to School Sales Tax Holiday | July 17, 2026 - July 19, 2026 | 1. Clothing for $156 or less per article
2. Computers, computer software, and school computer supplies with sales price of $1,173 or less
3. Books with a sales price of $47 or less
4. School supplies, school art supplies, and school instructional material with sales price of $78 or less
Click here for a quick reference sheet of exempt items.
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| Alabama | Grocery Tax Holiday | May 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026 | Removes the 2% state-level sales tax on food. The suspension applies only to the state portion, meaning local city/county taxes may still apply. For more information, click here. |
| Arkansas | Annual Sales Tax Holiday | August 1, 2026 - August 2, 2026 |
For more information, click here. |
| Connecticut | Annual Back to School Holiday | August 16, 2026 - August 22, 2026 | 1. Clothing and footwear – Less than $100 per item (excluding clothing accessories and protective or athletic clothing). |
| Florida | Hunting, Fishing, and Camping Sales Tax Holiday | 2026 Dates TBA | Offering savings on camping, fishing, and hunting supplies, providing opportunities for tax-free savings for Floridians exercising their constitutional right to hunt and fish. |
| Florida | Back to School Holiday | August 7, 2026 - August 8, 2026 |
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| Indiana | Gas Use Tax Holiday | April 8, 2026 - May 8, 2026 | Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) signed an executive order declaring an emergency 30-day suspension of the state gasoline use tax, citing the ongoing conflict in Iran and dispute over the Strait of Hormuz. |
| Iowa | Annual Back to School Holiday | August 7, 2026 - August 8, 2026 | 1. Clothing and footwear – less than $100 per item (excluding clothing accessories). |
| Louisiana | Second Amendment Weekend Holiday | September 4, 2026 - September 6, 2026 |
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| Maryland | Annual Energy Star Holiday | February 14, 2026 - February 16, 2026 | 1. Sales of Energy Star products (includes air conditioners, washers and dryers, furnaces, heat pumps, standard-size refrigerators, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL), light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, dehumidifiers and programmable thermostats) and solar water heaters. |
| Maryland | Annual Back to School Holiday | August 9, 2026 - August 15, 2026 | 1. Clothing and footwear (excluding accessories) – $100 or less per item. Visit the Maryland Comptroller’s web page for more information. |
| Massachusetts | Annual Sales Tax Holiday | 2026 Dates TBA | 1. During the sales tax holiday, non-business sales at retail of single items of tangible personal property costing $2,500 or less are exempt from sales and use taxes, subject to certain exclusions. Visit the Massachusetts DOR’s web page for more information. |
| Mississippi | Annual Back to School Holiday | July 10, 2026 - July 12, 2026 | 1. Clothing and footwear – less than $100 per item. 2. School supplies – less than $100 per item. |
| Mississippi | Annual 2nd Amendment Holiday | August 28, 2026 - August 30, 2026 | 1. Retail sales of firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies. “Hunting supplies” means tangible personal property used for hunting, including, and limited to, archery equipment, firearm and archery cases, firearm and archery accessories, hearing protection, holsters, belts, and slings. |
| Missouri | Annual Back to School Holiday | August 7, 2026 - August 9, 2026 | 1. Clothing – $100 or less per item (excluding clothing accessories) |
| Missouri | Annual Energy Star Holiday | April 19, 2026 - April 25, 2026 | 1. All retail sales of Energy Star certified new appliances (includes Clothes washers, Clothes dryers, Water heaters, Dishwashers, Air conditioners, Furnaces, Refrigerators, Freezers, and Heat pumps) of up to $1,500 per appliance |
| Nevada | National Guard Member Holiday | October 30, 2026 - November 1, 2026 | Purchases made by National Guard members |
| New Mexico | Annual Back to School Holiday | July 31, 2026 - August 2, 2026 | 1. Clothing and footwear items – less than $100 per item (excluding accessories, athletic or protective clothing or footwear) NOTE: Retailers are not required to participate. |
| Ohio | Annual Sales Tax Holiday | 2026 Dates TBA | In prior years, this holiday was limited to back to school items. With Ohio House Bill 33, the 2024 holiday was expanded to include tangible personal property that is $500 or less. For more information, click here. *Only if Ohio has a budget surplus of at least $60 million.
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| Oklahoma | Annual Back to School Holiday | August 7, 2026 - August 9, 2026 | 1. Clothing and footwear – less than $100 per item (excluding accessories, special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except when used for athletic activity or protective use, or to the rental of clothing or footwear) |
| Puerto Rico | Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday | 2026 Dates TBA |
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| Puerto Rico | Annual Back to School Holiday | January 2, 2026 - January 3, 2026, July 2026 Dates TBD |
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| South Carolina | Annual Back to School Holiday | August 7, 2026 - August 9, 2026 | 1. Clothing and certain clothing accessories (excluding rentals) |
| Tennessee | Annual Back to School Holiday | July 24, 2026 - July 26, 2026 | 1. Clothing with a sales price of $100 or less Visit the Tennessee Department of Revenue web page for more information. |
| Texas | Emergency Preparation Supplies Holiday | April 25-27, 2026 | 1. Portable generators – less than $3000 per item |
| Texas | Annual Energy Star Holiday | May 23-25, 2026 | 1. Energy Star-qualified air conditioners priced at $6,000 or less; refrigerators priced at $2,000 or less; ceiling fans; incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs; dishwashers; dehumidifiers; programmable thermostats; and clothes washers |
| Texas | Water Efficient Products Sales Tax Holiday | May 23-25, 2026 |
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| Texas | Annual Back to School Holiday | August 7-9, 2026 | 1. Clothing and footwear – less than $100 per item (excluding accessories, athletic or protective clothing, and rentals of clothing or footwear); backpacks used by elementary and secondary students are included Beginning with 2026’s Back to School Holiday, the holiday will take place beginning on the first Friday in August until the following Sunday (S.B. 1415). |
| Virginia | Three Day Sales Tax Holiday | August 7, 2026 - August 9, 2026 |
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| West Virginia | Annual Back to School Holiday | 2026 Dates TBA | 1. An item of clothing priced at $125 or less; |