Shop for school supplies tax-free this weekend.

State and local sales taxes will not be charged on most school-related items Friday, Aug. 21, through Sunday, Aug. 23, the state’s annual tax holiday. Layaway plans can be used to take advantage of the sales tax holiday.

The law exempts most clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend.

Backpacks under $100 and used by elementary and secondary students are also exempt. A backpack is a pack with straps one wears on the back. The exemption during the sales tax holiday includes backpacks with wheels, provided they can also be worn on the back like a traditional backpack, and messenger bags. The exemption does not include items that are reasonably defined as luggage, briefcases, athletic/duffle/gym bags, computer bags, purses or framed backpacks. Ten or fewer backpacks can be purchased tax-free at one time without providing an exemption certificate to the seller.

House Bill 1801 identifies school supplies priced less than $100 that will be exempt from state and local sales tax for the tax-free weekend. The full list can be found below.

These items are in addition to school backpacks and most clothing and shoes priced less than $100 already designated tax-free during the weekend of Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 21–23.
Binders
Legal pads
Blackboard chalk
Lunch boxes

Book bags
Markers
Calculators
Notebooks
Cellophane tape
Paper (loose leaf ruled notebook
paper, copy paper, graph paper,
tracing paper, manila paper,
colored paper, poster board,
construction paper)
Compasses
Composition books
Pencil boxes and other school
supply boxes
Crayons
Pencil sharpeners
Erasers
Pencils
Folders (expandable, pocket,
plastic, manila)
Pens
Glue, paste and paste sticks
Protractors
Highlighters
Rulers
Index cards
Scissors
Index card boxes
Writing tablets
Most clothing is also tax exempt during
the holiday.

For a complete list, visit www.window. state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/ tx98_490.html

Retailers who sell items that do not qualify for the exemption may not advertise or promise to pay customers’ sales tax. Additionally, they are prohibited from advertising that they will not collect sales tax on items that do not qualify. They may, however, advertise that tax is included in the sales price of the taxable items being sold.