Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday is set to begin later this month, giving individuals three days to purchase qualifying back-to-school items without paying state or local sales tax.
Beginning July 31 at 12:01 a.m. through August 2 at 11:59 p.m., shoppers can purchase certain clothing, school supplies, and computers tax-free, provided the items meet the state’s eligibility requirements.
This year’s tax holiday marks the 20th anniversary of the program, which first launched in 2006.
Tennesseans can shop for back to school items & more tax-free from July 31 to August 2.
Learn more at https://t.co/Jsi4Xr9E7M https://t.co/TtqJA4z6eB
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) July 17, 2026
Clothing items, including general apparel such as shirts, pants, dresses, socks, and shoes, qualify for the tax exemption if each individual item costs $100 or less.
Items priced above $100, products sold together that exceed the price limit, and accessories such as jewelry, handbags, and sports or recreational equipment are not eligible for the exemption.
School and art supplies are also exempt from sales tax during the holiday if each item is priced at $100 or less. Qualifying items include binders, backpacks, paper, pens, pencils, crayons, rulers, paints, clay, drawing pads, and artist paint brushes.
Items that individually exceed the $100 price limit or are sold together in bundled packaging above the threshold do not qualify.
The tax exemption also applies to personal-use computers, laptops, and tablets priced at $1,500 or less.
Accessories and related items, including flash drives, compact discs, printer supplies, separately purchased software, and household appliances, are not included in the exemption.
The sales tax holiday applies to qualifying purchases made both in stores and online. All eligible purchases must be for personal use rather than business or trade.
“Tennessee’s strong track record of fiscal stewardship has allowed our state to cut taxes and put dollars back in the pocket of hardworking Tennesseans,” Governor Bill Lee said in a statement.
“I encourage every family to take advantage of back-to-school savings, and thank the General Assembly for their partnership to provide direct financial relief for taxpayers,” Lee added.
Tennessee Department of Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday has become a longstanding back-to-school tradition for families across the state.
“This weekend gives Tennesseans an easy way to save on many back-to-school essentials,” Gerregano said.
A complete list of qualifying and non-qualifying items for the upcoming sales tax holiday is available on the Tennessee Department of Revenue’s website.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
