As families across the Ark-La-Tex prepare for another school year, two upcoming tax-free shopping weekends will give parents an opportunity to stretch their back-to-school budgets.
Arkansas shoppers get the first chance to save, with the state’s annual Sales Tax Holiday taking place Saturday, August 1, through Sunday, August 2. Texas will follow the next weekend with its annual Tax-Free Weekend Friday, August 7, through Sunday, August 9.
For families purchasing clothes, shoes, backpacks and classroom supplies, the tax savings can add up quickly.
Arkansas Tax-Free Weekend
Arkansas’ Sales Tax Holiday exempts shoppers from paying both state and local sales taxes on a wide variety of back-to-school essentials.
Qualifying items include:
- Clothing and footwear priced under $100 per item
- Clothing accessories priced under $50 per item
- School supplies
- School art supplies
- School instructional materials
- Electronic devices commonly used by students, including computers, tablets, calculators, printers, cell phones and related accessories.
The tax exemption applies automatically at participating retailers throughout Arkansas and also includes qualifying online purchases made during the holiday.
Texas Tax-Free Weekend
Texas’ annual Tax-Free Weekend runs August 7-9 and covers many of the most common back-to-school purchases.
Eligible items include:
- Most clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per item
- Backpacks sold for less than $100
- Most school supplies priced under $100, including notebooks, binders, folders, pencils, pens, crayons, markers, glue, calculators, rulers and similar classroom essentials.
Unlike Arkansas, computers, tablets and printers are not included in Texas’ tax-free weekend. Items such as jewelry, watches, handbags, luggage and most athletic equipment also remain taxable.
A Chance to Save
With the cost of school supplies continuing to climb, tax-free weekends can make a noticeable difference for families preparing for the first day of school.
Whether you’re shopping for kindergarten or college, making a list before heading to the store—and timing your purchases with the tax-free weekends—can help keep more money in your pocket.
Arkansas families can begin shopping tax-free on Saturday, August 1, while Texas shoppers can take advantage of their savings the following weekend beginning Friday, August 7.
