Looking to save money for going back to school?
Texas’ tax-free weekend, Friday, August 11 through Sunday, August 13, might be for you.
Shoppers will not have to pay sales tax on supplies from pencils to diapers.
Purchases online or in-store count, but they must be paid for during the tax-free weekend. Layaway purchases completed or started during the weekend also qualify.
Here’s a list of what’s tax-free, according to the State Comptroller’s Office:
— School supplies: Backpacks and book bags; binders; blackboard chalk; calculators; cellophane tape; compasses; composition books; crayons; erasers; folders — expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila; glue; highlighters; index cards; index card boxes; legal pads; lunchboxes; markers (including dry-erase markers); notebooks; paper; pencil boxes and other school supply boxes; pencil sharpeners; pencils; pens; protractors; rulers; scissors; and writing tablets.
— Clothing: Most clothing, coats, pajamas, most shoes, socks, hats, swimsuits, neckties, underwear, and uniforms.
— Facemasks: Both cloth and disposable.
–– Others: Adult and baby diapers.
Some things that are not tax-free:
— Athletic items: Sports clothing used only for the purpose of a sport (e.g. baseball pants), sports equipment, and shoes such as cleats or fishing boots.
— Educational materials: Computers, textbooks, and software.
— Sewing items: Fabric, buttons, and zippers.
— Accessories: All accessories, including jewelry and watches.
— Bags: Briefcases, luggage, purses, wallets, and more than 10 backpacks.
— Others: Any item that is more than $100.
Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s office estimates that shoppers will save $136 million in state and local sales tax during this sales tax holiday.
Some Texas school districts will have started class by the sales-tax holiday.
State Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) said he didn’t realize some districts were starting earlier.
“It shows us that maybe we should take a look at it and see if we should change the dates,” he told a Corpus Christi TV station.