Shopping

As families across the Greater Houston area and beyond prepare for the new school year, the Texas Comptroller is giving shoppers a reason to plan ahead with the annual Sales Tax Holiday, scheduled for Friday, August 8 through Sunday, August 10, 2025.

This three-day event allows Texans to purchase qualifying clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced under $100 without paying state and local sales tax—a savings of about $8 for every $100 spent.

What’s Tax-Free and What’s Not?

You can buy these tax-free (if each item is under $100):

• Everyday clothing and shoes (jeans, shirts, dresses, sneakers, school uniforms)

• Student backpacks (up to 10 at once, including rolling backpacks and messenger bags)

School supplies like:

• Pens, pencils, crayons, markers

• Notebooks, paper, folders, binders

• Calculators and lunchboxes

These items are not tax-free:

• Athletic gear (football pads, golf cleats) and protective-use clothing

• Jewelry, watches, handbags, purses, luggage, computer bags

• Clothing subscription boxes

• Any single item priced $100 or more

• Industrial or medical-grade face masks (N95, etc.)

Special notes:

• Face masks: Cloth and disposable masks are tax-free (filters sold separately are taxable).

• Layaway & special orders: Still tax-free if final payment is made during Aug. 8–10.

• Delivery charges: If shipping or handling fees push an item over $100, sales tax applies to the full price.

For a full list of qualifying and nonqualifying items, visit the Clothing, Footwear and Other Items guide and the School Supplies list provided by the Texas Comptroller.

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Why Shoppers Are Starting Earlier — and What They’re Spending

Back-to-school shopping in 2025 looks different from previous years. Two-thirds (67%) of shoppers had already begun buying school items by early July, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). This marks the highest early start since NRF began tracking trends in 2018 and reflects growing concerns about tariffs and inflation affecting school supply and apparel prices.

“Consumers are being mindful of the potential impacts of tariffs and inflation on back-to-school items, and have turned to early shopping, discount stores and summer sales for savings on school essentials,” said Katherine Cullen, NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights.

This shift is also influencing how families spend their budgets. Families with K–12 students are expected to spend an average of $858.07, slightly less than last year’s $874.68, but with more emphasis on apparel and electronics. Nationally, this translates into $39.4 billion in expected spending on clothing, shoes, supplies, and electronics combined. Shoppers are planning to allocate $295.81 on electronics, $249.36 on clothing and accessories, $169.13 on shoes, and $143.77 on basic school supplies.

Even though families are budgeting slightly less overall, more consumers are shopping across nearly every category—a sign that households are adjusting their approach by spreading out costs, buying earlier, and taking advantage of sales events like Amazon Prime Day and Target Circle Week.

Practical Tips to Maximize Tax-Free Savings

Experts recommend planning strategically to make the most of both early sales and tax-free weekend:

• Make a List and Stick to It – Check school-issued supply lists and focus on priority items to avoid overspending.

• Leverage Online Shopping – Purchases made online still qualify for tax-free status and often come with additional discounts.

• Stack Coupons and Store Promotions – Pairing coupons or clearance items with the tax holiday can maximize savings.

• Spread Out Electronics Purchases – Many families now buy electronics earlier in the summer to lock in deals and avoid August price increases.

• Shop Early in the Day – Beat crowds and secure in-demand items before they sell out.

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The Texas Comptroller encourages residents to use this tax break not only to save money but also to support local businesses during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for additional back-to-school coverage on how families across Greater Houston are preparing for the new school year.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.