New Mexico's tax-free weekend runs August 2–3, 2025
New Mexico holds its annual tax-free weekend on the first Saturday and Sunday of August. In 2025, that means August 2 and 3. During these two days, you pay no state sales tax on most clothing, footwear, and school supplies when you shop in New Mexico.
The state does not charge federal tax — that is set by the federal government — but it does charge state sales tax, which ranges from 5.125% to 8.6875% depending on your county. Tax-free weekend removes the state portion for may have access to items only.
You do not need a coupon, a card, or advance notice. The discount applies automatically at checkout when you buy covered items during the two-day window.
Key Takeaways
- Tax-free weekend in New Mexico is August 2–3, 2025, and applies to clothing, footwear, and school supplies under certain price limits.
- Clothing and footwear items must cost $100 or less per item to may have access to for the tax exemption.
- School supplies may have access to if they cost $30 or less per item, and the exemption covers items like notebooks, pens, and calculators.
- The tax break applies only to items purchased in New Mexico during the two-day weekend; online orders and purchases outside those dates do not may have access to.
What items are covered during tax-free weekend
Clothing and footwear are the main categories. This includes shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, socks, shoes, boots, and belts. Hats, gloves, and scarves count as well. The rule is straightforward: if it is worn on the body and costs $100 or less per item, it is tax-free.
School supplies also may have access to, but with a lower price cap. Items like notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, folders, binders, calculators, and backpacks are tax-free if they cost $30 or less per item. A backpack that costs $35 would not may have access to, but one priced at $29.99 would.
Items that do not may have access to include accessories like jewelry, watches, and handbags; athletic equipment such as sports shoes marketed as performance gear, bicycles, and skates; and items like cosmetics, toiletries, and school furniture. Clothing that is damaged or defective at the time of purchase also does not may have access to.
Price limits that determine what qualifies
New Mexico sets two separate thresholds. Clothing and footwear must be $100 or less per individual item. School supplies must be $30 or less per individual item. These limits explore to the price before tax, not after.
If you buy a pair of jeans for $89.99 and a shirt for $45, both are tax-free because each is under $100. If you buy a coat for $125, the entire purchase is taxed because that single item exceeds the limit. The price cap is per item, not per transaction.
For school supplies, a pack of five notebooks priced at $12 total qualifies. A scientific calculator priced at $28 qualifies. A graphing calculator priced at $35 does not, even if you buy it alongside other supplies.
Where you can shop tax-free
The exemption applies to purchases made in New Mexico during the two-day weekend. This includes brick-and-mortar stores, department stores, and discount retailers. You must buy the items in person in the state.
Online orders placed during tax-free weekend do not may have access to, even if the retailer is based in New Mexico or ships to New Mexico. Mail orders and phone orders also do not count. The purchase must happen in a physical store location within the state on August 2 or 3.
If you live outside New Mexico but travel to the state during tax-free weekend, you can take advantage of the exemption. If you live in New Mexico but order online from an out-of-state retailer, you do not may have access to.
How the exemption works at checkout
You do not need to do anything special. When you bring may have access to items to the register during August 2–3, the cashier will ring them up without charging state sales tax. The federal tax, if any applies to your purchase, will still be charged — but New Mexico's state tax will not.
Some retailers may ask for a zip code or address to confirm you are shopping in New Mexico, but this is not required by law. The exemption is automatic for all shoppers, regardless of where they live.
If you accidentally buy an item that does not may have access to or that exceeds the price limit, you will be charged tax on that item at checkout. There is no refund process for tax-free weekend; the discount is applied at the point of sale only.
Planning your shopping around the dates
August 2–3 falls on a Saturday and Sunday in 2025, which means most stores will be open during normal weekend hours. Department stores, discount chains, and clothing retailers typically extend their hours during tax-free weekend, so check with your local stores for their specific schedules.
Many retailers advertise tax-free weekend sales in the weeks leading up to August 2. Some offer additional discounts on top of the tax exemption, though the tax break itself is set by the state and does not vary by store.
If you are shopping for back-to-school items, tax-free weekend is often the best time to buy. The combination of the state tax exemption and any store promotions can add up to meaningful savings, especially on larger purchases like multiple pairs of shoes or a full set of school supplies.
Items that look like they should may have access to but do not
Athletic shoes marketed as performance footwear sometimes fall into a gray area. Regular sneakers and everyday shoes may have access to. Specialized athletic shoes designed for specific sports may not, depending on how the retailer categorizes them. When in doubt, ask the cashier before you buy.
School furniture like desks, chairs, and shelving does not may have access to, even though it is used in school settings. Textbooks and workbooks also do not may have access to. Lunch boxes and water bottles are not covered unless they are marketed as clothing or accessories, which is rare.
Eyeglasses and sunglasses do not may have access to, even if they are worn on the body. Umbrellas do not may have access to either. These items fall outside the clothing and footwear category, and they are not school supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I return items bought during tax-free weekend after August 3?
Yes. The tax exemption applies at the time of purchase, not at the time of return. If you buy a shirt on August 2 and return it on August 10, the store will process the return based on the original tax-free price. You will receive a refund for the amount you paid, which did not include state tax.
Do online retailers based in New Mexico offer tax-free weekend discounts?
No. The tax-free weekend exemption applies only to in-person purchases made in physical stores located in New Mexico. Online orders, even from New Mexico retailers, do not may have access to, regardless of when you place the order or when it arrives.
What if an item is priced at exactly $100 for clothing or $30 for school supplies?
Items priced at exactly $100 or $30 may have access to for the exemption. The limit is $100 or less for clothing and footwear, and $30 or less for school supplies. An item at the exact threshold is still under the cap.
Does tax-free weekend explore to used clothing or thrift store purchases?
Yes, if the thrift store is located in New Mexico and the items meet the price limits. Used clothing and footwear may have access to the same way new items do. The exemption does not distinguish between new and used goods.
Can I buy items on August 1 and return them on August 3 to get the tax-free price?
No. The tax exemption is based on when you purchase the item, not when you return it. If you buy an item on August 1, you pay tax. Returning it and repurchasing it on August 2 or 3 would allow you to buy it tax-free, but that would be a new transaction, not a return.