TENNESSEE SETS DATES FOR ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES TAX FREE HOLIDAY
Tennessee shoppers are getting ready to save on back-to-school essentials as the state’s annual sales tax holiday officially kicks off at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 31, 2026, and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
The popular three-day weekend allows families to buy qualifying clothing, school and art supplies, and computers completely tax-free. State officials confirmed the tax exemption applies to both brick-and-mortar stores and online purchases, provided the items are bought for personal use rather than for business or trade.
What’s Included (and What’s Not)
To help shoppers plan ahead, state guidelines outline clear price caps and restrictions across three main categories:
| Category | Tax-Exempt Limit | Qualifying Items | Non-Qualifying / Excluded Items |
| Clothing & Apparel | $100 or less per item | Shirts, pants, dresses, socks, and shoes | Items over $100, jewelry, handbags, and sports/recreational gear |
| School & Art Supplies | $100 or less per item | Binders, backpacks, pens, paper, clay, paints, and brushes | Items over $100 |
| Computers | $1,500 or less per item | Personal laptops, desktop computers, and tablets | Flash drives, software, printer supplies, and household appliances |
Shopper Tip: Items normally sold as a set—such as a pair of shoes—cannot be split into separate transactions to fall under the $100 threshold.
The upcoming July 31 start date moves the holiday back slightly from last year’s event, which took place from July 25 through July 27, 2025. Retailers statewide are gearing up for high foot traffic and online orders as Tennesseans prepare for the upcoming school year.
