Tax free weekend in Texas: Everything that is (and isn’t) tax free this weekend
With tax free weekend on the horizon, here’s a detailed look at what is and isn’t sales-tax exempt from Friday, Aug. 9 through Sunday, Aug. 11.
Note that each item must be less than $100 to qualify. Click here for more information on tax free weekend.
What is tax free?
School/office supplies
- Binders
- Blackboard chalk
- Book bags
- Calculators
- Cellophane tape
- Compasses
- Composition books
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Folders – expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
- Glue, paste and paste sticks
- Highlighters
- Index cards
- Index card boxes
- School supply kits
- Legal pads
- Lunch boxes
- Markers (including dry erase markers)
- Notebooks
- Paper – loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
- Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
- Pencil sharpeners
- Pencils
- Pens
- Protractors
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Writing tablets
- Backpacks (including messenger bags. There is a limit to 10 backpacks per purchase.)
Clothing
- Adult diapers
- Aprons (household)
- Athletic socks
- Baby bibs
- Baby clothes
- Baby diapers (cloth or disposable)
- Baseball caps
- Baseball jerseys
- Belts with attached buckles
- Blouses
- Boots (general purpose)
- Cowboy boots
- Hiking boots
- Bow ties
- Bowling shirts
- Bras
- Camp clothes
- Caps (baseball, fishing, golf)
- Chef uniforms
- Children’s novelty costumes
- Clerical vestments
- Coats and wraps
- Coveralls
- Dresses
- Cold weather earmuffs
- Employee uniforms (unless rented)
- Fishing vests (non-flotation)
- Football jerseys
- Dress gloves (unless rented)
- Leather gloves
- Golf dresses
- Golf jackets and windbreakers
- Golf shirts
- Golf skirts
- Graduation caps and gowns
- Gym suits and uniforms
- Hats
- Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
- Hosiery, including support hosiery
- Hunting vests
- Jackets
- Jeans
- Jogging apparel
- Knitted caps or hats
- Leg warmers
- Leotards and tights
- Mask (costume)
- Neckwear and ties
- Nightgowns and nightshirts
- Painter pants
- Pajamas
- Pants
- Panty hose
- Raincoats and ponchos
- Rain hats
- Religious clothing
- Robes
- Safety shoes (adaptable for street wear)
- Scarves
- Scout uniforms
- Shawls and wraps
- Shirts
- Shirts (hooded)
- Shoes
- Boat shoes
- Cross training shoes
- Flip flops
- Running shoes (without cleats)
- Jellies
- Sandals
- Slippers
- Sneakers and tennis shoes
- Walking shoes
- Shorts
- Skirts
- Slips
- Socks
- Soccer socks
- Suits, slacks, and jackets
- Suspenders
- Sweatshirts and sweatsuits
- Sweaters
- Swimsuits
- Tennis dresses
- Tennis shorts
- Tennis skirts
- Ties
- Tights
- Trousers
- Undershirts
- Uniforms (school, work, nurse, waitress, military, postal, police, fire)
- Veils
What is not tax free?
School/office supplies:
Anything not included in the qualifying list, including computers, textbooks, etc.
The following backpack items do not qualify for this exemption:
- framed backpacks
- luggage
- briefcases
- athletic, duffle or gym bags
- computer bags
- purses
Clothing and other items:
- Barrettes
- Belt buckles (sold separately)
- Bobby pins
- Elastic ponytail holders
- Hair bows
- Hair clips
- Handbags
- Handkerchiefs
- Headbands
- Jewelry
- Key cases
- Purses
- Wallets
- Watch bands
- Watches
- Alterations
- Aprons (welders)
- Baseball cleats
- Baseball gloves
- Baseball pants
- Bathing caps
- Belt buckles
- Belts for weight lifting
- Bicycle shoes (cleated)
- Climbing boots (cleated or spiked)
- Fishing boots (waders)
- Overshoes and galoshes
- Rubber work boots
- Ski boots
- Bowling shoes (rented and sold)
- Buttons and zippers
- Chest protectors
- Cloth and lace, knitting yarns, and other fabrics
- Clothing repair items, such as thread, buttons, tapes, and iron-on patches
- Corsages and boutonnieres
- Dry cleaning services
- Noise cancellation earmuffs
- Elbow pads
- Embroidery
- Fabrics, thread, buttons, lace, patterns, knitting yarns
- Fins (swim)
- Football pads
- Football pants
- Baseball gloves
- Batting gloves
- Bicycle gloves
- Gardening gloves
- Golf gloves
- Hockey gloves
- Rubber gloves
- Surgical gloves
- Tennis gloves
- Work gloves
- Goggles
- Golf purses
- Golf shoes
- Hair nets, bows, clips, and barrettes
- Handbags and purses
- Handkerchiefs
- Hard hats
- Headbands
- Helmets (bike, baseball, football, hockey, motorcycle, sports)
- Hockey gloves
- Ice skates
- Insoles
- Jewelry
- Knee pads
- Laundering services
- Life jackets and vests
- Luggage
- Mask, protective – welder, umpire, swim
- Monogramming services
- Overshoes and rubber shoes
- Pads (football, hockey, soccer, elbow, knee, shoulder)
- Paint or dust respirators and incidental supplies
- Personal flotation devices
- Pocket squares
- Protective gloves
- Protective masks
- Rented clothing (including uniforms, formal wear, and costumes)
- Repair of clothing or footwear
- Ribbons
- Roller blades
- Roller skates
- Safety clothing (normally worn in hazardous occupations)
- Safety glasses (except prescription)
- Safety shoes (not adaptable for street wear)
- Sewing patterns
- Shin guards and padding
- Shoe inserts
- Shoelaces
- Ballet shoes
- Baseball cleats
- Bicycle cleats
- Bowling shoes
- Cleated or spiked shoes
- Football shoes
- Jazz and dance shoes
- Overshoes
- Soccer cleats
- Tap dance shoes
- Track and cleats
- Wading/water sport
- Shoe shines
- Shoe repairs
- Shoulder pads (for dresses, jackets, etc.)
- Shoulder pads (football, hockey, sports)
- Shower caps
- Skates (ice and roller)
- Ski boots (snow)
- Ski suits (snow)
- Ski vests (water)
- Sports helmets
- Sports pads (football, hockey, soccer, knee, elbow, shoulder)
- Sunglasses (except prescription)
- Sweatbands (arm, wrist, head)
- Swimming masks and goggles
- Track shoes and cleats
- Umbrellas
- Bulletproof vests
- Flotation vests
- Scuba
- Water-ski
- Wallets
- Watch bands
- Watches
- Water ski vests
- Weight lifting belts
- Wet and dry suits
- Wrist bands