Earlier today, the calendar flipped from July to August, and kids everywhere groaned with the realization that they will soon have to be going back to school. But the even louder grousing you’re hearing this morning is from parents envisioning their bank accounts being drained by purchases of backpacks, clothes, pencils (do kids even use those anymore?), and those individual packs of tissues that will never be used but you buy anyway. What some of these parents don’t know is that a number of states have sales tax holidays in August — many of them starting today — to ease the burden of back-to-school spending.

Below is a state-by-state list of tax holidays coming up this month, culled mostly from this annual list from the Federation of Tax Administrators.

Some things to remember:
• Unless otherwise mentioned, the price mentioned in parentheses is per item, so “no sales tax on clothing (up to $100)” means “no sales tax on any individual item of clothing up to $100, not the total value of the purchase.
• In some states, local taxes may still apply.
• We recommend you check the specific link for your state’s tax holiday before shopping, to make sure you’re aware of any conditions involved.

Alabama
Aug. 1-3
No sales tax on clothing (up to $100 per item); computers (up to $750); school supplies (up to $50); books (up to $30).
More information HERE.

Arkansas
Aug. 2-3
No sales tax on clothing (up to $100); certain accessories (up to $50); or school supplies, including art supplies and instructional materials.
More information HERE.

Connecticut
Aug. 17-23
No sales tax on certain clothing or footwear (up to $300)
Examples of eligible and ineligible items HERE.

Florida
Aug. 1-3
No sales tax on clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling (up to $100); certain school supplies (up to $15); personal computers and certain computer-related accessories (only on the first $750 of the sales price, and only when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use).
More information HERE.

Georgia
Aug. 1-2
No sales tax on clothing and footwear (up to $100); computers, computer components, and computer software purchased for noncommercial home or personal use (up to $1,000); ; school supplies, including art supplies, computer supplies, and instructional materials (up to $20).
More information HERE.

Iowa
Aug. 1-2
No sales tax on clothing and footwear (up to $100)
More information HERE.

Louisiana
Aug. 1-2
No sales tax on “all consumer purchases of tangible personal property,” meaning most purchases you would make for back-to-school purposes.
More information, including examples of which types of purchases would still be taxable, available HERE.

Maryland
Aug. 10-16
No sales tax on clothing and footwear (up to $100; accessories not included).
More information HERE.

Massachusetts
Aug. 16-17*
(NOTE: As of posting, this date had not been approved by the Mass. Governor)
No sales tax to be collected on purchases of “tangible personal property.” Excluded items include gas, steam, electricity, motor vehicles, motorboats, meals or any single item that costs more than $2,500.
The Mass. Dept. of Revenue does not have info posted on this holiday yet, as it’s not official. Will update when we hear anything more.

Missouri
Aug. 1-3
No sales tax on clothing (up to $100); school supplies (up to $50 per purchase); software (up to $350); personal computers and peripherals (up to $3,500).
More information HERE.

New Mexico
Aug. 1-3
No sales tax on clothing or shoes (up to $100); computers or tablets (up to $1,000); computer accessories (up to $500); school supplies (up to $30).
More information HERE.

Oklahoma
Aug. 1-3
No sales tax on clothing or shoes (up to $100).
More information HERE.

South Carolina
Aug. 1-3
No sales tax on: clothing, clothing accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers, printers and printer supplies, computer software, bath wash clothes, blankets, bed spreads, bed linens, sheet sets, comforter sets, bath towels, shower curtains, bath rugs and mats, pillows, and pillow cases.
More information HERE.

Tennessee
Aug. 1-3
No sales tax on clothing (up to $100); school supplies (up to $100); computers (up to $1,500).
More information HERE.

Texas
Aug. 8-10
No sales tax on most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks (up to $100).
More information HERE.

Virginia
Aug. 1-3
No sales tax on certain school supplies (up to $20); clothing and footwear (up to $100).
More information HERE.

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