The 2027 Texas sales tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 6 and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 8, 2027 (Texas Comptroller, Publication 98-490). Most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks sold for less than $100 per item can be bought without sales tax. State law now starts the holiday on the first Friday in August, so the dates no longer depend on school calendars.
At a glance
Key Facts
2027 holiday
Aug. 6-8, 2027
2026 holiday
Aug. 7-9, 2026
Price limit
Less than $100 per item
Texas state sales tax
6.25%
Maximum combined rate
8.25%
Introduction
Texas runs a back-to-school sales tax holiday every August. For 2027 the Comptroller has published the dates: Friday, Aug. 6 through midnight Sunday, Aug. 8. This page explains how the weekend works, using the Comptroller's rules and the 2026 holiday as the worked example, and shows how much a shopper saves.
Section 01
2027 Dates and How They Are Set
The Texas Comptroller's Publication 98-490 (revised 08/2026) says the 2027 sales tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 6, and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 8. The date follows from the law: Senate Bill 1415 (2025), effective 1 September 2025, amended Texas Tax Code section 151.326(a) so the clothing and footwear exemption runs from 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August to midnight on the following Sunday. 1 August 2027 is a Sunday, so the first Friday is 6 August. Section 151.327 (school supplies and school backpacks) uses the same period. Earlier law tied the start date to the school calendar. The Comptroller's August 2026 release still says the Legislature determines the dates and the qualifying items each year, so lawmakers can change either; check the Comptroller before you shop.
Section 02
How the Holiday Works (2026 Example)
The Comptroller's newsletter says the 2026 holiday began Friday, Aug. 7 and lasted through midnight Sunday, Aug. 9, and that Texas shoppers have saved money during one weekend every August since 1999. During the three days, most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 could be bought without sales tax. The Comptroller expected Texas families to save an estimated $142.5 million in state and local sales taxes in 2026.
Where: the exemption applies whether you buy in stores, online, by telephone or by mail.
Layaway: items placed on layaway, or final payments made on existing layaway purchases, during the holiday are tax-free if the individual item price stays below $100.
Timing: the exemption applies only to items you buy during the holiday; items bought before or after do not qualify for exemption or a tax refund.
Paperwork: in most cases you do not need to give the seller an exemption certificate.
What does not qualify: the Comptroller excludes specially designed athletic or protective-use clothing and footwear, accessories such as jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets and watches, and clothing or footwear rentals, alterations and cleaning services.
Price test: the limit is less than $100 for each item, and shipping and handling charged by the seller count toward the item's sales price. Two $80 shirts both qualify even though the total is $160.
Mistakes: if a retailer charges sales tax on a qualifying item by mistake, you can ask the seller for a refund.
Section 03
How Much You Save
Texas charges a 6.25 percent state sales tax. Cities, counties, special purpose districts and transit authorities can add up to 2 percent, for a maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent (Texas Comptroller). The saving on a qualifying item is the tax you would otherwise have paid. Our arithmetic:
Item price
Tax saved at 6.25%
Tax saved at 8.25%
$40
$2.50
$3.30
$80
$5.00
$6.60
Your own rate is between those two figures, depending on where the store is. The holiday only applies to items under the price limit, and the limit is per item, so a $120 pair of shoes is taxed in full while a $95 pair is not (the limit is less than $100 per item).
Section 04
Planning for 2027
Mark Friday, Aug. 6 to Sunday, Aug. 8, 2027, but confirm on the Texas Comptroller's sales tax holiday page in July, because the Legislature can change the dates, the price limit or the item list. Items bought before or after the window get no exemption or refund, so plan which purchases to move into the weekend. If a retailer is unsure whether an item qualifies, the Comptroller's lists and the Tax Code sections above settle it.
All figures on this page were read from these pages on 9 November 2026.
💡
CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This helps us provide free tax calculators and comparison tools.Learn more about our affiliate partnerships
Talk to a Real CPA
Taxhub
★ 4.8verified reviews · 3,758 reviews
Moving between states means a complex multi-state tax return. Taxhub matches you with a real CPA via video call — average cost $325. Rated 4.8★ by 3,700+ clients.
⚠ Not for simple single-state returns. Free filing is fine for straightforward W-2 situations.
Friday, Aug. 6 through midnight Sunday, Aug. 8, 2027, according to the Texas Comptroller's Publication 98-490. State law sets the holiday on the first Friday in August and the following weekend, although the Legislature can change it.
Q
When was the 2026 Texas sales tax holiday?
It began Friday, Aug. 7, 2026 and lasted through midnight Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026.
Q
What can you buy tax-free during the Texas sales tax holiday?
Most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks sold for less than $100 per item. Athletic or protective-use clothing, accessories such as jewelry and handbags, and rentals do not qualify. The Comptroller says the Legislature sets the list of qualifying items.
Q
Is there a price limit?
The limit is less than $100 per item (2026 and the Comptroller's 2027 publication). It applies to each item, including items on layaway; shipping charged by the seller counts toward the item's price.
Q
Does the holiday apply to online purchases?
Yes. The Comptroller says the exemption applies whether shoppers buy items in stores, online, by telephone or by mail.
Q
What if the store charged me sales tax on a qualifying item?
You can ask the seller for a refund. The Comptroller says customers may request a refund directly from the seller.
Q
Do I need an exemption certificate?
In most cases you do not need to give the seller an exemption certificate to buy qualifying items tax free, according to the Comptroller's newsletter.
Q
What is the sales tax rate in Texas?
The state rate is 6.25 percent, and local taxing jurisdictions can add up to 2 percent for a maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent.
Disclaimer:This guide gives general tax information for educational purposes and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules, forms and deadlines are set by the authorities named here and can change; check the official sources linked in this guide and talk to a qualified tax professional about your own situation.