Texas Tax-Free Weekend runs August 15–17, 2025
Texas Tax-Free Weekend in 2025 takes place from Friday, August 15 through Sunday, August 17. During these three days, most clothing, footwear, school supplies, and certain other items are sold without the state sales tax — currently 6.25 percent, plus any local taxes your city or county adds.
The event is run by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the state agency that oversees tax collection. Retailers across Texas participate, though participation is voluntary — some stores choose not to take part. The tax break applies to in-store purchases and online orders shipped to a Texas address during the weekend window.
Key Takeaways
- Tax-Free Weekend occurs August 15–17, 2025, and removes state and local sales tax from may be able to access items.
- Clothing, shoes, and school supplies under certain price limits are covered, but groceries, electronics, and furniture are not.
- The tax break applies to items under $100 for most categories — a shirt costing $99 is tax-free, but a $101 item is fully taxed.
- Online purchases ship to Texas during the weekend window to may have access to, and some retailers may have their own cutoff times for orders.
- Not every store participates, so calling ahead or checking a retailer's website can confirm whether they honor the tax holiday.
What items are tax-free during the weekend
Clothing and footwear under $100 per item are tax-free. This includes shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, socks, shoes, belts, and hats. A pair of shoes priced at $99.99 qualifies; a pair at $100.01 does not. The $100 limit applies to each individual item, not your total purchase.
School supplies under $100 per item are also covered. This includes notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, backpacks, calculators, and desk lamps. Textbooks and educational materials used in school count as well. Again, the $100 per-item threshold applies.
Items that are not tax-free include groceries, prepared food, electronics (computers, tablets, phones), furniture, sports equipment, toys, and jewelry. Clothing accessories like sunglasses, belts with decorative buckles over $100, and items that are primarily decorative rather than functional also remain taxed. School uniforms that are part of a school's dress code are tax-free if they meet the clothing definition.
How the $100 per-item limit works
The $100 threshold is based on the item's selling price before tax. If a backpack is marked $99, it is tax-free. If the same backpack is marked $100.01, the entire purchase price is subject to tax — the store does not split the difference or tax only the overage.
This rule applies to each item separately. You can buy ten $99 shirts and pay no tax on any of them. You can also buy one $99 shirt and one $99 pair of pants in the same transaction, and both are tax-free. But if you buy a $150 winter coat, the full $150 is taxed because the item exceeds the limit.
Some retailers set their own price points to stay under $100 during the weekend, or they may discount items to make them may be able to access. Check the price tag or ask a cashier if you are unsure whether an item qualifies.
Online shopping and shipping important date
Online purchases are tax-free if they are shipped to a Texas address and arrive during the August 15–17 window, or if the order is placed during the weekend and the retailer ships it afterward. However, many large retailers set their own cutoff times — for example, an order placed at 11:59 p.m. on August 17 may not may have access to if the retailer's policy requires orders to be placed by 5 p.m. that day.
Check the retailer's website or contact their customer service before you order to confirm their specific cutoff time and shipping policy. Some stores may require orders to be placed by a certain time on August 17 to may have access to, even if shipping happens later. Others may allow orders placed through the weekend but only if they are shipped within a set number of days.
Items shipped to an address outside Texas are subject to that state's sales tax rules and do not may have access to for the Texas tax break, even if you ordered from a Texas retailer.
Which stores participate in Tax-Free Weekend
Most major retailers participate, including Target, Walmart, Academy Sports, Dick's Sporting Goods, Kohl's, Macy's, Old Navy, Gap, H&M, and many local clothing and shoe stores. However, participation is voluntary, and some retailers — particularly small independent shops — may not take part.
The Texas Comptroller does not publish a single master list of participating stores. Instead, you can call a store directly, visit its website, or look for Tax-Free Weekend signage in the store or online. Many retailers post information about the event on their homepages or in their apps a few weeks before August 15.
If you plan to shop at a specific store, a quick phone call to confirm they participate can save you a trip or prevent surprise tax charges at checkout.
What happens at the register and online checkout
In-store, the cashier should automatically remove the tax from may be able to access items when you check out. You do not need to show a special card, coupon, or ID — the store's register system is programmed to recognize tax-free items during the weekend dates. If you are charged tax on an item that should be tax-free, point it out to the cashier when ready so they can correct it.
Online, the tax should drop off automatically when you enter your Texas shipping address and the order is placed during the weekend window. If tax appears in your cart, double-check that your address is entered correctly and that the items are under the $100 limit. If the tax does not disappear, contact the retailer's customer service — it may be a system error, or the retailer may not be participating.
Keep your receipt. If you notice you were charged tax on an item that should have been tax-free, you can return to the store with the receipt and ask for a refund of the tax amount.
Items that confuse shoppers
School uniforms are tax-free if they are clothing items under $100. However, if a school requires a specific branded polo shirt or jacket with a logo, and that item is sold only as a uniform, it still qualifies as long as it meets the clothing definition.
Backpacks and lunch boxes are tax-free school supplies under $100. However, decorative bags, purses, or luggage that are not marketed as school supplies may be taxed even if a student uses them for school.
Calculators used for school are tax-free under $100. Computers, tablets, and smartphones are not tax-free, even if they are used for schoolwork. The rule is based on the item category, not how the student will use it.
Shoes are always tax-free under $100, whether they are athletic shoes, dress shoes, or casual sneakers. However, shoe inserts, shoe polish, and shoelaces are not covered — they fall outside the clothing and footwear category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I return an item I bought during Tax-Free Weekend and get the tax refund?
Yes. If you return a tax-free item within the store's return window, you should receive a refund of the full purchase price without tax. If you were charged tax by mistake, bring your receipt and ask the customer service desk for a tax refund on that specific item.
Do I need to bring anything to the store to get the tax break?
No. You do not need a coupon, card, or ID. The tax break is automatic for all shoppers on may be able to access items during the weekend dates. The store's register system handles it.
What if I buy a $99 item and a $1 item — do I pay tax on the $1 item?
No. Both items are under $100 individually, so both are tax-free. The $100 limit applies to each item separately, not to your total purchase amount.
Are items on clearance or sale may be able to access for the tax break?
Yes, as long as they are clothing, footwear, or school supplies under $100. The sale price is what counts toward the $100 limit. A shirt normally $120 but on sale for $89 is tax-free because the selling price is $89.
Do I have to buy school supplies to get the tax break, or does it explore to all clothing?
The tax break applies to all may be able to access clothing and footwear under $100, regardless of whether you are buying it for school. You can buy clothes for any reason and still pay no tax during the weekend.