BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas — Texas Tax-Free Weekend is officially underway, giving families across Brazoria County a chance to save some money as back-to-school shopping ramps up.
The state's annual sales tax holiday began Friday, Aug. 7, and runs through midnight Sunday, Aug. 9.
Most qualifying clothing, shoes, school supplies and student backpacks priced below $100 can be purchased without state or local sales tax during the weekend.
The $100 Rule
The $100 limit applies to each individual qualifying item — not the entire purchase.
That means a shopper could buy several qualifying items totaling more than $100 and still receive the exemption as long as each item is priced under $100.
An eligible item priced at $100 or more generally remains taxable.
What Qualifies?
Common tax-free purchases include:
- Shirts, jeans, shorts and dresses
- Socks and underwear
- Everyday shoes and tennis shoes
- Jackets and coats
- School uniforms
- Backpacks
- Binders and notebooks
- Pens, pencils and markers
- Crayons
- Glue
- Paper
- Scissors
- Calculators
- Lunch boxes
Most qualifying items must cost less than $100.
What Doesn't Qualify?
Not everything needed for school is included.
Computers, software and many electronics remain taxable.
Other excluded items can include purses, wallets, jewelry, watches, luggage, computer bags and specialized sports equipment such as football pads or certain athletic cleats.
Online Orders Can Count
Shoppers don't have to visit a store to take advantage of the tax holiday.
Qualifying online purchases can also be tax-free when the purchase is completed during the Aug. 7-9 holiday period.
However, shipping and handling charges can count toward an item's sales price.
For example, a qualifying item priced at $95 could become taxable if shipping pushes the total price of that item to $100 or more.
Discounts Could Mean Extra Savings
Retail discounts can also help shoppers get below the tax-free threshold.
If a qualifying item normally costs $100 or more but is discounted below $100 during the holiday, it may qualify for the exemption based on its sale price.
That gives Brazoria County shoppers an opportunity to combine store sales with the state's temporary tax break.
Don't Wait Too Long
Texas Tax-Free Weekend ends at midnight Sunday, Aug. 9.
Families in Freeport, Clute, Lake Jackson and across Brazoria County still needing clothes, shoes, backpacks or school supplies have through Sunday night to take advantage of the savings.
A complete list of qualifying and nonqualifying items is available through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.