Guide to 2012 Sales-Tax Holidays
Several states have sales-tax holidays in July and August for back-to-school shoppers.

For most of you it probably seems too soon to start thinking about back-to-school shopping. But in just a few weeks several states will be offering their annual sales-tax holidays on purchases of clothing, school supplies or computers. Shopping on these days can be a good way to save a little money.
DOWNLOAD: The Kip Tips iPad App
Seventeen states will have sales-tax holidays this year -- and 12 will fall on the first weekend of August, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. Georgia returns to the list of states offering tax breaks this year after canceling its sales-tax holiday in 2010 because of a budget deficit.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
See the list below to find out which states will have sales-tax holidays and when.
JULY
Mississippi: July 27-28. Purchases of clothing and footwear less than $100 exempt. More details.
AUGUST
Alabama: August 3-5. Purchases of clothing (up to $100), computers ($750), school supplies ($50) and books ($30) exempt. See a complete list of tax-exempt items.
Arkansas: August 4-5. Purchases of clothing less than $100 and school supplies are exempt. See a complete list of tax-exempt items.
Connecticut: August 19-25. Purchases of clothing and footwear less than $300 exempt. More details.
Florida: August 3-5. Purchases of clothing ($75) and school supplies ($15) exempt. See a complete list of tax-exempt items.
Georgia: August 10-11. Purchases of clothing ($100), computers ($1,000) and school supplies ($20) exempt. More details.
Iowa: August 3-4. Purchases of clothing and footwear less than $100 exempt. See a complete list of tax-exempt items.
Louisiana: August 3-4. Most items less than $2,500 exempt. More details.
Maryland: August 12-18. Purchases of clothing and footwear $100 or less exempt. More details.
Missouri: August 3-5. Purchases of clothing ($100), computers ($3,500) and school supplies ($50) exempt. More details.
New Mexico: August 3-5. Purchases of clothing (less than $100), computers ($1,000) and school supplies ($15) exempt. More details.
North Carolina: August 3-5. Purchases of clothing ($100), computers ($3,500), school supplies ($100) and sports equipment ($50) exempt. More details.
Oklahoma: August 3-5. Purchases of clothing and footwear less than $100 exempt. See a list of tax-exempt items.
South Carolina: August 3-5. Purchases of clothing, computers and school supplies exempt. See a list of tax-exempt items.
Tennessee: August 3-5. Purchases of clothing ($100), computers ($1,500) and school supplies ($100) exempt. More details.
Texas: August 17-19. Purchases of clothing, footwear, backpacks and school supplies less than $100 exempt. See a list of tax-exempt items.
Virginia: August 3-5. Purchases of clothing and footwear ($100) and school supplies ($20) exempt. See a list of tax-exempt items.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Award-winning journalist, speaker, family finance expert, and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk.
Cameron Huddleston wrote the daily "Kip Tips" column for Kiplinger.com. She joined Kiplinger in 2001 after graduating from American University with an MA in economic journalism.
-
New $6,000 'Senior Bonus' Deduction: What It Means for Taxpayers Over Age 65
Tax Changes If you’re an older adult, a new bonus tax deduction could provide a valuable tax benefit. Here's how it works.
-
Walmart Plus Members Will Soon Have Their Choice Between Two Streaming Services
Discover which streaming service is coming to the platform.
-
Texas Sales Tax-Free Weekend 2025
Tax Holiday Here's what you needed to know about the Texas sales tax holiday.
-
Alabama Tax-Free Weekend 2025
Tax Holiday Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 back-to-school Alabama sales tax holiday.
-
Best States to Buy Chocolate Candy Tax-Free
State Taxes There’s something spooky this Halloween, and it’s not just the ghouls. Find out if your state’s sales tax takes a bite out of sweet savings.
-
Florida Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday 2025
Sales Taxes The new tax-free holiday in Florida brought month-long savings on computers, clothing and other school supplies.
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop on Amazon Prime Day
Smart Buying Is Amazon Prime Day still a good deal? We'll break it down.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental Properties
Travel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and More
Travel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
-
Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2025
Credit Cards If you're searching for a credit card that rewards you for everyday purchases, we've chosen the best.