When Is Your State's Tax Free Weekend in 2020?

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Every year, multiple states host tax free weekends that coincide with the Back to School season. These no-tax days offer a prime opportunity to stock up on school supplies, clothing, and even computers — all while paying no sales tax.

Is your state planning a tax free weekend soon? To find out, check out the chart below. It has all the confirmed dates for 2020, as well as a few projected dates (marked with *).

[h=3]When Is Your State's Tax Free Weekend in 2020?[/h][TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR="bgcolor: #8D9CE7"]
[TH="align: center"] State [/TH]
[TH="align: center"] Dates [/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Alabama [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] July 17 - 19 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Arkansas [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 1 - 2 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Connecticut [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 16 - 22 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Florida [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] Not confirmed for 2020 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Iowa [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 7 - 8 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Maryland [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 9 - 15 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Massachusetts [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 29 - 30 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Mississippi [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] July 31 - August 1 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Missouri [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 7 - 9 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] New Mexico [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 7 - 9 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Ohio [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 7 - 9 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Oklahoma [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 7 - 9* [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] South Carolina [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 7 - 9* [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Tennessee [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] July 31 - August 2 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Texas [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 7 - 9 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"] Virginia [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] August 7 - 9 [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[h=3]When Is the Next Alabama Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Alabama is once again ahead of the game, hosting the first Back to School tax holiday in 2020. In fact, Alabama has two tax free weekends — one for Back to School and another for severe weather preparedness.

Here's some of the items that will qualify for Alabama tax free shopping:

• Clothing
• Computers, software, and supplies
• School supplies
• Books

SHOPPING? See the latest school supply deals!

[h=3]When Is the Next Arkansas Tax Free Weekend?[/h] From August 1 through August 2, Arkansans can buy clothing, footwear, and school supplies sales tax free.

State and local sales taxes are both waived during the tax holiday. All retailers have to participate, and they may not charge tax on exempt items during the no-tax days.

[h=3]What Is a Tax Holiday?[/h]What is a tax holiday, anyway? It's a period of time when consumers can enjoy a temporary reduction or elimination of a tax. These holidays can affect income, property, value-added, and other taxes — but we're specifically referring to sales tax holidays here.

Tax free weekends are for everybody! Even if you aren't shopping for a student, you can still pay no sales tax on must-haves like clothing, shoes, and electronics during your state's tax holiday.

[h=3]When Is the Next Connecticut Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Connecticut's sales tax holiday — called the "sales and use tax exclusion" — actually lasts for an entire week. It starts the third Sunday in August and concludes the following Saturday.

This year's holiday will be held from August 16-22.

In certain states, tax holidays last longer than a weekend. Some go for an entire week!​

[h=3]When Is the Next Florida Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Florida has two sales tax holidays — one in June for disaster prep and one in August for school supplies.

During the disaster prep tax holiday, consumers don't pay sales tax on batteries, fuel tanks, generators, radios, and more. The exact item list and price limits depend on the final version of legislation.

Florida's Back to School tax holiday — if it occurs this year — will exempt bags, clothing, footwear, and wallets. Additionally, Florida will exempt school supplies like calculators, tape, poster board, and scissors.

[h=3]When Is the Next Iowa Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Iowa has its tax free weekend on a Friday and Saturday, making it an odd state out. In 2020, the sales tax holiday goes from August 7 to August 8. Beware: If you show up for it on Sunday, you'll miss out.

Consumers won't pay sales tax on clothing and footwear items that cost $100 or less.

[h=3]What States Have No Sales Tax?[/h]For some shoppers, every day is a no-tax day! According to The Balance, "five states do not have a sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon."

Of course, this doesn't mean you'll have an easier time calculating prices in no-tax states. Some state laws allow localities to charge sales taxes, for instance. And lots of states exempt food purchases from sales taxes.

Unfortunately, many states have no sales tax holiday. Wisconsin stopped hosting these events last year, and Louisiana isn't having a state tax holiday through 2025 at least.

[h=3]When Is the Next Maryland Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Maryland has actually set aside seven days as Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week. This year's Back to School sales tax holiday goes from Sunday, August 9, through Saturday, August 15.

During the August sales tax holiday, consumers won't pay state sales tax on the following items:

• Apparel and footwear for less than $100
• Backpacks and book bags for less than $40

Some states have very simple tax holiday rules. Products like clothing or school supplies are tax exempt when they cost $100 or less.​

[h=3]When Is the Next Massachusetts Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Dates for the 2020 Massachusetts sales tax holiday are August 29-30 this year.

Bay Staters can shop for practically anything during the state's no-tax days, as long as each item is under $2,500.

[h=3]When Is the Next Mississippi Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Mississippi's school-oriented sales tax holiday spans from July 31 to August 1 in 2020. This is slightly earlier than most states' tax free weekends.

Mississippi will also host a Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday from August 28 to August 30. This holiday exempts firearms, ammunition, and a short list of hunting supplies — though any animals you might use while hunting aren't exempt.

[h=3]Tax Holidays Aren't Always About School[/h]Not every tax free weekend is about stocking up for the new school year. Other tax holidays usually correspond to disaster preparedness or environmental awareness.

These holidays take the sales tax off items like generators or Energy Star appliances. Some states even offer tax holidays for hunting supplies.

[h=3]When Is the Next Missouri Tax Free Weekend?[/h] By statute, Missouri's Back to School sales tax holiday starts on the first Friday in August and continues through the following Sunday.

This means the tax holiday will last from Friday, August 7, 2020, through Sunday, August 9, 2020. So what items qualify for Missouri tax free shopping?

• Clothing and footwear
• Computers and software
• School supplies
• Graphing calculators

Most tax free weekends fall in mid-to-late summer. They're primarily intended to help parents stock up before the new school year.​

[h=3]When Is the Next New Mexico Tax Free Weekend?[/h] New Mexico describes its Gross Receipts Tax Holiday as "nothing short of a bonanza" for parents with school-age children. By statute it begins on the first Friday of August and concludes the following Sunday at midnight.

That means the next New Mexico tax free weekend will be August 7 to August 9 in 2020.

[h=3]When Is the Next Ohio Tax Free Weekend?[/h] From August 7 through August 9 in 2020, Buckeye residents can buy school supplies and apparel without paying sales tax.

School supplies only include items on Ohio's specific list. Any item that's not on the list is taxable. Note that school supplies — including book bags — must cost $20 or less per item, and instructional supplies must also cost $20 or less.

[h=3]Every Tax Free Weekend Is Different[/h]Know your local laws! Some states have strict exemption rules, only cutting sales tax on school supplies under $15, or clothing under $60.

Other states might only exempt the first few dollars on a purchase. For example, a state might cut sales tax on backpacks, but only on the first $40 in the price. In these cases, you'll have to pay sales tax on the remainder of the purchase. Still other states don't place any price limit on clothing or school supply purchases.

[h=3]When Is the Next Oklahoma Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Oklahoma's tax free weekend is among the many that occur at the beginning of August, a perfect time for Back to School shopping. Oklahoma's sales tax holiday will likely begin at 12:01 am on Friday, August 7, 2020, and last until midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2020.

Oklahoma exempts any item of clothing or footwear with a sale price of less than $100. This encompasses "all human wearing apparel suitable for general use." Oklahoma maintains a list, but it doesn't include everything that could be tax exempt.

Eleven states will hold a tax holiday during the first two weekends in August.​

[h=3]When Is the Next South Carolina Tax Free Weekend?[/h] South Carolina's tax holiday should begin on the first Friday in August and end on the following Sunday. Unlike most states, South Carolina doesn't list any price limitations on its tax exemptions. Plus, internet sales qualify — as long as the order is paid for during the no-tax days.

South Carolina exempts the following items:

• Clothes, accessories, and footwear
• School supplies
• Computers, printers, and software
• Bed and bath items

SHOPPING? See the latest school supply deals!

[h=3]When Is the Next Tennessee Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Wondering what you can get tax free in Tennessee? Unlike most states, Tennessee doesn't exempt computer supplies sold without a CPU — so if you're looking for a deal on printer ink, you're out of luck. Also, accessories and clothing rentals aren't tax exempt.

The following categories of goods are exempt during the Tennessee sales tax holiday:

• Clothing of $100 or less
• School supplies and art supplies of $100 or less
• Computers of $1,500 or less

[h=3]Shop Summer Clearance During Tax Holidays[/h]Tax free weekends typically coincide with end-of-season and Back to School sales. That means even nonparents can score great deals on warm-weather clothing and shoes.

In 2019, we saw summer clearance sales at stores like Walmart and JCPenney, where shorts were offered from $4, shirts from $5, and pants from just $8 a pair.

[h=3]When Is the Next Texas Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Texas boasts three tax holidays in 2020: one for emergency prep, another for Energy Star products, and a third for Back to School. You can learn all about the latter one here.

In short: Texas' Back to School sales tax holiday for 2020 will start Friday, August 7, and run through midnight on Sunday, August 9. Each item must cost less than $100. There is no limit to the number of items you may purchase tax free, as long as each individual item is below the price limit.

Some states allow you to shop tax free online. Check your local laws to see if your purchases will qualify!​

[h=3]When Is the Next Virginia Tax Free Weekend?[/h] Virginia's sales tax holiday runs from August 7 to August 9 in 2020. In addition to state taxes, Virginia exempts your purchases from any relevant local or regional taxes, in particular the extra taxes paid in the Hampton Roads and Historic Triangle regions (Williamsburg, York County, and James City County).

Virginia exempts the following categories of goods during its tax free weekend:

• School supplies
• Clothing and footwear
• Hurricane preparedness products
• Energy Star and WaterSense-certified efficient products

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