In Texas, certain items are tax-free, particularly during the state's annual sales tax holiday. The 2025 sales tax holiday took place from August 8 to August 10, and the tax exemption applied to many school and clothing-related items priced under $100. Here is a detailed list of typical tax-free items in Texas:
Tax-Free Items in Texas (typically during sales tax holidays):
- Most clothing and footwear priced under $100 (no limit on quantity)
- Includes shirts, skirts, coats, dresses, shorts, pants, jeans, hats, sneakers, socks, workout clothes, diapers, underwear, and cloth/disposable face masks
- School supplies under $100
- Binders, blackboard chalk, book bags, lunch boxes, calculators, cellophane tape, compasses, protractors, rulers, composition books, legal pads, notebooks, folders of various types, glue, paste, glue sticks, index cards and boxes, paper (loose leaf, copy, graph, tracing, manila, colored, construction, poster board), pencil boxes, scissors, and writing utensils (pencils, sharpeners, pens, highlighters, markers, crayons, erasers)
- School supply kits (if the value of tax-exempt items exceeds taxable items)
- Backpacks (including those with wheels and messenger bags) under $100, limited to a maximum of 10 without requiring an exemption certificate
- Baby diapers (both cloth and disposable)
- Children's costumes, scout uniforms, and certain work clothes may also qualify
Non-Tax-Free Items:
- Items priced $100 or more
- Textbooks and software
- Jewelry, wallets, watches
- Hair accessories (clips, bows, barrettes, headbands)
- Handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas
- Specialty sports gear (cleated shoes, gloves, helmets, protective pads)
- Non-prescription sunglasses
- Computers and printers
- Subscription boxes
- Industrial or medical-grade masks like N95
- Replacement filters for masks
The tax exemption applies only to qualifying items purchased during the sales tax holiday period or other specific exemptions and is available both in physical stores and online vendors doing business in Texas. For general year- round tax exemptions beyond the specific holiday, some food items, medical supplies, and emergency preparation supplies also may be exempt from sales tax, but these vary. This comprehensive summary reflects Texas sales tax exemptions as of 2025 and particularly during tax-free weekends aimed at back- to-school shopping.
