Sales tax holidays in 2026 create short-term exemptions—but the operational lift behind them is anything but temporary. Eligibility thresholds, product categories, and local participation rules vary widely by state, increasing the risk of misclassification and missed exemptions.
This state-by-state snapshot captures confirmed and anticipated programs as of July 2026, helping tax and finance teams plan configurations, validate product mappings, and prepare for upcoming exemption windows.
| State |
Holiday Type |
Dates (2026) |
Qualifying Items |
Key Notes |
| Alabama |
Severe Weather Preparedness |
July 17 – 19 |
Generators, emergency supplies |
State tax mandatory; local opt-in required 90 days in advance |
| Alabama |
Back-to-School |
February 20 – 22 |
Clothing, footwear, school supplies |
Local participation optional |
| Arkansas |
Back-to-School |
August 1 – 2 |
Clothing and footwear under $100; school supplies under $50 |
All retailers required to participate; local tax also waived |
| Connecticut |
Tax-Free Week |
August 16 – 22 |
Clothing and footwear under $100 |
State tax only; athletic gear, jewelry, accessories excluded |
| Florida |
Back-to-School |
July 20 – August 20 |
Clothing and footwear under $100; school supplies under $50; computers under $1,500 |
Month-long window; separate disaster prep and Energy Star holidays also scheduled |
| Iowa |
Back-to-School |
August 7 – 8 |
Clothing and footwear under $100 |
|
| Maryland |
Energy Star |
February 14 – 16 |
Energy Star appliances, solar water heaters |
No local sales tax; statewide exemption |
| Maryland |
Back-to-School |
August 9 – 15 |
Apparel and footwear under $100; backpacks under $40; accessories excluded |
No local sales tax; statewide exemption |
| Massachusetts |
Annual Holiday |
August 8 – 9 |
Most single items under $2,500 for personal use |
Legislature sets dates annually; state tax only |
| Mississippi |
Back-to-School |
July 10 – 12 |
Clothing, footwear and school supplies under $100 |
Business-use items excluded |
| Mississippi |
Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday |
August 28 – 30 |
Firearms, ammunition, and select hunting supplies |
|
| Missouri |
Show Me Green |
April 19 – 25 |
Energy Star appliances |
Annual appliance holiday |
| Missouri |
Back-to-School |
August 7 – 9 |
Clothing under $100; computers under $1,500; school supplies under $50 |
|
| New Mexico |
Back-to-School |
July 31 – August 2 |
Clothing and footwear under $100; computers under $1,000; school supplies under $30 |
|
| Ohio |
Back-to-School |
August 7 – 9 |
Clothing under $75; school supplies and instructional materials under $20 per item |
Expanded holiday canceled under HB 186; reverts to traditional 3-day program |
| Oklahoma |
Back-to-School |
August 7 – 9 |
Clothing and footwear under $100 |
|
| Puerto Rico |
Hurricane Preparedness |
May 22 – 25 |
Portable generators under $3,000; specified emergency prep supplies |
|
| Puerto Rico |
Back-to-School |
January 2 – 3; July 17 – 18 |
School supplies; school uniforms and footwear |
|
| South Carolina |
Back-to-School |
August 7 – 9 |
Clothing, school supplies, computers, bed and bath items |
No price cap; one of the broadest programs nationally |
| Tennessee |
Back-to-School |
July 24 – 26 |
Clothing under $100; school supplies under $100; computers under $1,500 |
|
| Texas |
Emergency Prep Supplies |
April 25 – 27 |
Generators under $3,000; hurricane shutters under $300; specific supplies under $75 |
Multiple holidays throughout the year |
| Texas |
Energy Star and Water-Efficient Products |
May 23 – 25 |
ACs under $6,000; refrigerators under $2,000; all other Energy Star/WaterSense items (no cap) |
|
| Texas |
Annual Sales Tax Holiday |
August 7 – 9 |
Clothing, footwear, school supplies under $100, face masks |
Remote sellers must comply if they have nexus |
| Virginia |
Annual Holiday |
August 7 – 9 |
Clothing and footwear under $100; school supplies under $20; emergency preparedness items; Energy Star products |
|
| West Virginia |
Back-to-School |
July 31 – August 3 |
Clothing and footwear under $125; school supplies under $50; computers under $500; sports equipment under $150 |
|
Sales tax holidays are high-volume, high-risk events—where small configuration gaps can quickly turn into audit exposure or margin leakage. Staying ahead requires more than tracking dates; it demands accurate product taxability, jurisdiction-level awareness, and timely system updates.
Verify eligibility on state revenue websites before applying, and bookmark this guide for updates as legislative sessions finalize remaining programs.
Ready to pressure-test your sales tax holiday readiness?
If multiple states on this list are relevant to your business, it may be time to validate whether your tax setup can handle shifting thresholds, product rules, and local variations.
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