Tax-Free Weekend in Texas: How to Maximize Back-to-School Savings

(Mix 93-1) Target has them running, so does Walmart, Amazon, and a few other retailers. Walk into an electronics store and you'll see them too. Back-to-school commercials and sales.

Right now, school is the furthest thing from students' and teachers' minds, but it's a fact of life. By the end of August, those school bells will once again be ringing across East Texas, and you'll be fighting the carpool line to get your kid to school on time.

Long gone will be the days of sleeping in and staying up late; those alarm clocks will be going off with purpose, and before that happens, you've got to get the kids prepared for the new school year.

Kids will need new school uniforms, shoes, backpacks, and all those required school supplies. There will even be things the teachers request that are not even on that school supply list.

How Much Are Families Spending This Year?

According to NBC's Today Show, Deloitte says parents could be spending, on average, $570 per child for school supplies this year. That total covers everything, even some sports equipment like cleats.

Still, that's a lot of money per child, and with inflation and prices where they are, budgets are going to be stretched to the max this year.

Thanks to the Texas Sales Tax Holiday weekend, parents will be receiving a bit of a reprieve at the register by not having to pay sales tax on certain back-to-school items.

When Is the Texas Sales Tax Holiday?

Texas Sales Tax Holiday weekend begins Friday, August 8th and runs through midnight Sunday, August 10th.

During this annual sales tax relief event, you can purchase most clothing (including school uniforms and athletic apparel), footwear, backpacks (less than $100), and school supplies tax-free from any retailer or online business within the state tax free.

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What Items Are Tax-Free in 2025?

The list of items that are tax-free is extensive. A complete list can be found here along with restrictions and exemptions. Taking a brief look at the list, here are some of the highlights of the clothing items that will be exempt from tax:

• Athletic socks
• Select backpacks
• Coats and jackets
• Select sports equipment
• Select shoes
• School uniforms

School Supplies You Can Buy Tax-Free

Here is a brief look at some of the school supply items that will be tax-exempt:

• Binders
• Book bags
• Calculators
• Composition books
• Crayons
• Erasers
• Folders
• Glue, paste and paste sticks
• Highlighters
• Index cards
• Markers
• Notebooks
• Paper
• Pencils
• Pens
• Rulers
• Scissors
• Writing tablets

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Enjoy what's left of summer 2025. School will begin sooner than you think.

Final Tips to Maximize Your Savings

So get that school supply list from your school, shop for what you need, and save that Texas tax during Texas Tax Free Holiday weekend.