Everything You Need to Know About the Texas Sales Tax Free Weekend

Qualifying Items

During the sales tax holiday, you can buy most footwear and clothing (sold for less than $100) tax free. You do not need to give the seller an exemption certificate.

The exemption applies to each eligible item sold for less than $100, and there is no limit to the number of qualifying items you can buy.

For example, if you buy two shirts for $80 each, each shirt qualifies for the exemption because each is less than $100, even though the total purchase price is $160.

Items That Do Not Qualify

The following items do not qualify for exemption during the sales tax holiday:

• items sold for $100 or more
• clothing subscription boxes
• specially-designed athletic activity or protective-use clothing or footwear
  • For example, golf cleats and football pads are usually worn only when people play golf or football, so they do not qualify for the exemption.
  • Tennis shoes, jogging suits and swimsuits, however, can be worn for other than athletic activity and qualify for the exemption.
• clothing or footwear rentals, alterations (including embroidery) and cleaning services
• items used to make or repair clothing, such as fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks and zippers
• jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches and other accessories
• computers
• software
• textbooks
• certain baggage items (see below)
• unspecified school supplies (see below)

Cloth and disposable fabric face masks meet the definition of an article of clothing and are exempt from sales tax during the upcoming Sales Tax Holiday.

The statute specifically excludes special clothing or footwear that is primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use and that is not normally worn except when used for the activity. Industrial or medical grade masks (e.g. N95 or other masks designed as personal protective equipment) or other similar personal protection equipment are not exempt during the sales tax holiday.

If a cloth or disposable fabric face mask is sold with a filter, the mask is exempt during the holiday; however, replacement filters are taxable.

For additional information about the upcoming sales tax holiday see Rule 3.365, Sales Tax Holiday – Clothing, Shoes and School Supplies. 

During the sales tax holiday, student backpacks sold for less than $100 are exempt from tax.

The exemption includes backpacks with wheels and messenger bags. You can buy up to 10 backpacks tax free at one time without giving an exemption certificate to the seller.

Baggage Items That Do Not Qualify

The following items do not qualify for this exemption:

• framed backpacks
• luggage
• briefcases
• athletic, duffle or gym bags
• computer bags
• purses

Only specific school supplies sold for less than $100 qualify for the exemption, and an exemption certificate is not required.

Special Purchases

If you buy qualifying school supplies under a business account, you must give a properly completed Form 01-339, Texas Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate (PDF), to the seller.

"Under a business account" means you are:

• using a business credit card or business check and not a personal credit card or personal check;
• being billed under a business account maintained by the seller; or
• using a business membership at a membership-based retailer.

During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying items tax free when you:

• make the final payment on an item already on layaway; or
• choose an item and place it on layaway

During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying items tax free, even if the items have to be ordered.

For example, if you pay for an $80 shirt that must be special-ordered or is on back order, and you pick up the shirt after the sales tax holiday, then it still qualifies for the exemption.

If you buy the qualifying item after the sales tax holiday, a special order made or rain check given during the sales tax holiday does not qualify the item for exemption.

For example, if you place a special order (or receive a rain check) to buy a $50 shirt and do not pay for the shirt during the sales tax holiday, then the shirt is taxable.