Mississippi Tax-Free Weekend 2025
Just in time for Prime Day, Mississippi celebrated a tax holiday in July. Find out what back-to-school essentials were included.


Updated: The Mississippi 2025 back-to-school sales tax-free weekend has ended.
It was time once again for Mississippi residents to save some cash: The state’s annual back-to-school tax holiday was July 11 through July 13, 2025. Savvy shoppers could buy clothing, school supplies, and other qualifying items while forgoing the state’s 7% sales tax rate during the holiday.
And this year, there was an added incentive to start shopping — Amazon Prime Day overlapped with Mississippi’s sales tax-free weekend.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-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.
Read on for what was included in the Mississippi tax holiday for 2025.
When was the Mississippi tax-free weekend?
Mississippi celebrated its 17th annual back-to-school tax holiday from Friday, July 11th, through Sunday, July 13th.
During this time, many school supplies and articles of clothing were exempt from Mississippi’s 7% sales tax rate. This meant that, for every $100 you spent, you saved roughly $7 in state taxes on eligible items.
What did the Mississippi tax-free weekend include?
The sales tax holiday included many back-to-school items, like clothing and supplies, under a specific dollar amount. Qualifying purchases of $100 (per item) were exempt from Mississippi state taxes during the holiday.
Here is a sample list of eligible items included in the Mississippi back-to-school tax-free weekend:
- Backpacks, book bags, and lunch boxes.
- Writing tablets and calculators.
- Textbooks, notebooks, pencils, and pens.
- Shirts, shorts, jeans, and pants.
- Most shoes, dresses, jackets, and sweaters.
- Work clothes, workout clothes, and gym uniforms.
- Scout uniforms and children’s novelty costumes (for a school play, Halloween dress up, etc.).
What wasn't included in the Mississippi tax-free weekend 2025?
While many eligible items were included in the upcoming state tax holiday in Mississippi, several were excluded.
Here are a few items you could not buy state tax-free during the 2025 Mississippi tax-free weekend:
- Most electronics, including computers, printers, and phones.
- Makeup and hair accessories, like headbands, bows, and clips.
- Belt buckles, jewelry, and watches.
- Briefcases, luggage, wallets, and purses.
- Diapers and baby bibs.
- Sports equipment like helmets, sports pads, shin guards, and cleats.
- Items used for creating clothes, including cloth, lace, knitting yarns, fabrics, thread, buttons, etc.
For a full list of eligible and ineligible items, see the state’s Department of Revenue website.
When did Amazon Prime Day end in Mississippi?
Online purchases may have qualified for Mississippi’s sales tax holiday weekend but generally must have been shipped to a Mississippi address to qualify. Additionally, the purchases must have been made during the tax-free period (July 11th through July 13th).
Online retailers like Amazon honor state sales tax holidays. However, the retailer explains on its website that "tax may still be calculated on items if they do not qualify, which can include items over a certain threshold, bundles, or specific items that are not included in the holiday."
Amazon Prime Day 2025 ended on July 11th. This left one day of overlap for Mississippi customers who shopped the state sales tax holiday to buy Amazon Prime Day deals.
*Note: Shipping and handling charges were not included in the $100 threshold.
2025 Back-to-school sales and deals
Store sales and discounts may have been eligible for the tax-free weekend in Mississippi, but there were strict rules governing which items were eligible.
For instance, the following circumstances would not allow you to purchase items state sales tax free during the Mississippi tax holiday:
- “Buy one, get one” sales — you could not average two items together to qualify for the $100 total. For instance, if you bought one item for $110 and another item for half off, at $55, sales tax was still due on the first item.
- Manufacturers’ coupons that reduced an item’s price below the $100 limit didn't qualify for the sales tax holiday.
- Items put on layaway couldn't be purchased exempt from state taxes during the Mississippi tax holiday weekend.
However, other sales and store discounts may have been eligible for tax-exempt status. For instance, if you purchased an item at 50% off for $60, that purchase would have been exempt from state taxes.
Read More
- Five States With No Sales Tax
- Summer Activities That Can Impact Your Taxes
- Tax-Friendly Summer Ideas for Your Backyard
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.

Kate is a CPA with experience in audit and technology. As a Tax Writer at Kiplinger, Kate believes that tax and finance news should meet people where they are today, across cultural, educational, and disciplinary backgrounds.
-
Kiplinger Special Report: Business Costs for 2026
Economic Forecasts Fresh forecasts for 2026, to help you plan ahead and prepare a budget on a range of business costs, from Kiplinger's Letters team.
-
I’m 57, with $1.8 million saved, and want a low-stress job for the next decade. My wife says keep cranking and retire at 62 instead. Who’s right?
We asked expert wealth planners for advice.
-
The Fall Garden Tax? What to Plant and How to Prepare
Tax Tips Fall gardening could increase your taxes this season. Here’s what to know while planting in 2025.
-
Texas Sales Tax-Free Weekend 2025
Tax Holiday Here's what you needed to know about the Texas sales tax holiday.
-
Retirees Should Watch These Four Key Tax Changes in 2025
Tax Changes This year brings key tax changes that could affect your retirement taxes and income.
-
The Most Tax-Friendly State for Retirement in 2025: Here It Is
Retirement Tax How do you retire ‘tax-free’? This state doesn’t tax retirement income, has a low median property tax bill, and even offers savings on gas. Are you ready for a move?
-
Five Ways Trump’s 2025 Tax Bill Could Boost Your Tax Refund (or Shrink It)
Tax Refunds The tax code is changing again, and if you’re filing for 2025, Trump’s ‘big beautiful’ bill could mean a bigger refund, a smaller one or something in between next year. Here are five ways the new law could impact your bottom line.
-
New SALT Deduction Could Put Thousands Back in California Homeowners’ Pockets
Tax Breaks The federal state and local sales tax (SALT) deduction cap is higher this year, and could translate into bigger savings for Golden State homeowners.
-
Money for Your Kids? Three Ways Trump's ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Impacts Your Child's Finances
Tax Tips The Trump tax bill could help your child with future education and homebuying costs. Here’s how.
-
Why Your Summer Budget Feels Tighter: Tariffs Push Up Inflation
Tariffs Your summer holiday just got more expensive, and tariffs are partially to blame, economists say.