When Texas Tax-Free Weekend Happens in 2024

Texas Tax-Free Weekend in 2024 runs from August 17 through August 19. During these three days, you pay no state sales tax on certain clothing, footwear, school supplies, and computers when you buy them in Texas or online from Texas retailers.

The state sets this window every year in early August. It is not a negotiable date — all Texas retailers must observe it, and the exemption applies whether you shop in a store or online. Some retailers may run promotions around these dates, but the tax exemption itself is the same across all businesses.

The exemption covers only the state sales tax (currently 6.25 percent), not local taxes. If your city or county has added local sales tax on top of the state rate, you still pay that portion. For example, if your total sales tax rate is 8.25 percent and 6.25 percent is state tax, you save only on the 6.25 percent portion.

Key Takeaways

  • Tax-Free Weekend in Texas runs August 17–19, 2024, and covers clothing, shoes, school supplies, and computers under certain price limits.
  • You save only the state portion of sales tax (6.25 percent), not local taxes added by your city or county.
  • Most clothing and shoes have no price limit, but school supplies are capped at $100 per item and computers at $750.
  • The exemption applies to purchases made in Texas stores and from Texas online retailers during the three-day window only.
  • Items like sports equipment, art supplies, and general office supplies are not covered, even if used for school.

What Items Are Actually Tax-Free

Clothing and shoes are the broadest category covered. This includes shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, socks, belts, hats, and footwear of any kind. There is no price limit per item — a $500 coat is tax-free just as a $20 shirt is. The item must be worn on the body; costumes and clothing with attached masks or props may not may have access to depending on how the retailer interprets the rule.

School supplies are tax-free up to $100 per item. This covers notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, binders, paper, erasers, glue, scissors, rulers, and similar items. If a single item costs more than $100 — for instance, a high-end calculator or a specialty art set — only the first $100 of that item's price is tax-free. Backpacks and lunch boxes count as school supplies and follow the $100 cap.

Computers and computer equipment are tax-free up to $750 per item. This includes laptops, desktops, tablets, and monitors. Keyboards, mice, and other peripherals under $100 each are also covered. A computer that costs $1,200 would have $750 exempted and $450 taxed normally.

Items explicitly not covered include sports equipment (cleats, gloves, uniforms), art supplies beyond basic school use, general office supplies not tied to school, books, and electronics like headphones or speakers. Clothing for infants under 24 months is also excluded.

How the Tax Savings Actually Work

When you buy a tax-free item during the weekend, the retailer removes the state sales tax at checkout. You see the reduction on your receipt immediately. If you are buying online, the Texas retailer's system should automatically remove the state tax if you provide a Texas address.

The savings depend on what you buy and your local tax rate. On a $100 pair of shoes with an 8.25 percent total tax rate, you save $6.25 (the state portion). On $500 in school supplies capped at $100 per item, you save $6.25 per item, or $31.25 total if you buy five items. The actual dollar amount varies by how much you spend and whether your area has local taxes on top of the state rate.

You do not need a coupon, code, or special registration. The exemption is automatic at the point of sale. If a retailer charges you state tax on a covered item during the weekend, ask them to correct it — they are required by law to honor the exemption.

Online Shopping and Out-of-State Retailers

Online purchases from Texas retailers are covered during Tax-Free Weekend if you provide a Texas delivery address. The retailer's system should detect this and remove the state tax automatically. If it does not, contact the retailer's customer service before completing the purchase.

Purchases from out-of-state retailers (Amazon, Walmart.com if shipped from out of state, or other national sites) are not covered by the Texas exemption, even if you live in Texas. The exemption applies only to Texas retailers or to out-of-state retailers that have a physical presence in Texas and are registered to collect Texas tax.

If you are unsure whether a retailer is based in Texas or has a Texas tax registration, check their website or call customer service. Some large retailers operate both Texas and non-Texas fulfillment centers, so the location where your order ships from matters.

What Happens If You Miss the Weekend

If you do not shop during August 17–19, you pay full sales tax on these items for the rest of the year. There is no makeup period or extended window. The exemption is only for those three days.

Some retailers offer their own back-to-school sales or discounts outside Tax-Free Weekend, but those are separate from the state tax exemption. A store discount and the tax exemption are not the same thing — you may see both applied, or only one, depending on the retailer's promotion.

If you have large school supply or clothing purchases planned, timing them during Tax-Free Weekend is the only way to save on state sales tax. Planning ahead and making a list can help you take full advantage of the three-day window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to buy items for school to get the tax exemption?

No. The items must fall into the covered categories (clothing, shoes, school supplies under $100, computers under $750), but you do not have to prove they are for school use. You can buy clothes for any reason and still get the exemption during Tax-Free Weekend.

What if I buy something online before the weekend but it arrives during the weekend?

The exemption is based on when you complete the purchase, not when the item arrives. If you order before August 17, you pay full tax even if the package arrives on August 18. You must place the order during the three-day window for the exemption to apply.

Are used or secondhand items covered?

Used clothing and shoes sold by thrift stores, consignment shops, and secondhand retailers are covered during Tax-Free Weekend. Used computers and school supplies follow the same rules as new items — the exemption applies to the category, not the condition of the item.

Can I return something I bought during Tax-Free Weekend and get a refund?

Yes. If you return an item bought during the weekend, the refund should reflect the tax-free price. If a retailer refunds you the full taxed amount, ask them to adjust it to remove the state tax portion. Keep your receipt to show the original tax-free purchase.

Do gift cards count as tax-free purchases?

No. Buying a gift card during Tax-Free Weekend does not make future purchases with that card tax-free. The exemption applies only to the actual items you buy during August 17–19. When you use the gift card later, you pay tax at that time's rate.