As families and students across Harris County prepare for the 2024-2025 school year, they can take advantage of the state’s annual tax holiday, scheduled for Aug. 9-11, and earn savings on several items. 

During the three-day tax-free weekend (Friday to Sunday), shoppers will be exempt from the standard 8.25% sales tax for most school supplies, clothing and footwear priced under $100. In addition to in-store shopping, customers can also take advantage of saving on items purchased online, by telephone, mail or custom orders.

Not all items qualify for the tax-free savings. 

Clothing items that do not qualify for the exemption include those specially-designed for athletic activity or protective-use clothing and football. 

And while backpacks with wheels and messenger bags both qualify for the savings, those defined as luggage, briefcases, gym bags, computer bags and purses are not exempt. 

An exemption certificate is not required for supplies unless the purchases are made under a business account. If that’s the case, the retailer must obtain an exemption certificate from the purchaser, which certifies the items purchased are for an elementary or secondary school student. 

Shoppers can also take advantage of layaway plans, either making the final payment on an item already on layaway or placing an item on layaway during the sales tax holiday to earn the savings. 

The tax-free holiday was established in Texas in 1999, and 15 other states also hold similar weekends in July and August. 

Please refer to Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-490/) for a full list of tax-free and taxable items during the holiday and additional resources.