Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday offers shoppers a chance to purchase clothing, school supplies, and computers without sales tax from 12:01 a.m. on Friday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. This initiative is particularly beneficial for parents looking to save on back-to-school expenses, as well as for anyone in need of these items. Purchases can be made both in physical stores and online, but it’s important to note that items must be for personal rather than business use.
Eligible items include clothing priced at $100 or less per item, covering a range from shirts and pants to shoes and dresses. School and art supplies, also capped at $100 per item, encompass essential items including backpacks, crayons, pens, and artistic materials like paints and clay. Additionally, computers and personal-use laptops and tablets are qualified if they cost $1,500 or less.
Exclusions to this tax benefit include clothing, school, and art supplies that exceed the $100 threshold, along with items like jewelry, handbags, and various electronics such as flash drives and household appliances. It’s crucial to remember that items typically sold together, like shoes, cannot be split to circumvent the price cap.
Overall spending on back-to-school supplies across the U.S. has seen a significant uptick since 2007. Families with K-12 children are projected to spend an average of $858 in 2025, a slight decrease from $890 in 2023. College students and their families are expected to average nearly $1,326 in their back-to-school shopping, down from $1,367 two years prior.
This sales tax holiday not only alleviates financial strain during the back-to-school season for many families but also encourages local and online shopping, benefiting the economy as a whole.
It’s a great opportunity for families to stock up on needed supplies while benefiting from substantial savings.