Tax-Free weekend this year in Texas will begin on Friday, August 11 and end at midnight Sunday, August 13. Customers will not have to pay the 8.25% sales tax on qualifying items purchased in-store or online in Texas. Here are six things you should know before you make any purchases.
Everything is not tax-free. Items that qualify for tax-free purchases include most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks. Each item must be sold for under $100. List of Taxable and Exempt Clothing Items.
If shopping online, try to shop retailers offering free shipping. Why? Because delivery fees and shipping/handling charges are part of the total sales price. For example, if you purchase a $95 pair of shoes and shipping is $10, then the total sales price will be $105 which is over the $100 qualifying tax-free limit. Of course, there are ways around this so just be aware. Get the details at this link under the subtitle: Additional Charges Affect the Sales Price
Most athletic gear is not tax-exempt. Sorry mama, you won’t find any tax exemptions on cleats, helmets, sports pads, etc. Check this list before you make any purchases.
Face Masks qualify as an article of clothing, therefore will be tax-free as long as they are cloth or disposable fabric. If your masks requires a filter, replacement filters are taxable.
School supply kits are tax-free as long as the value of qualifying items is more than the value of taxable items. If your district offers a school supply kit, check in with them to see about purchasing your kit during the tax-free weekend.
Baby Items! Diapers, baby clothes and bibs qualify as tax-free. It’s a great time to stock up on diapers or shop for that baby shower coming up!
For additional details and qualifying lists of items, visit the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website.