Texas Tax-Free Weekend is a highly awaited sales tax holiday that helps families save on their kids’ back-to-school essential shopping. While it’s mostly geared toward getting ready for the new school year (it applies to most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks under $100), it can also be a great opportunity for anyone looking to refresh their wardrobe. Tax-Free Weekend is especially important this year with inflation hitting everyone’s budget hard.
Don’t live in Texas? Check out our full list of other states’ tax-free weekends for 2022.
When Is Tax-Free Weekend in Texas?
This year, the summer 2022 Texas Tax-Free Weekend is from Friday, Aug. 5 through Sunday, Aug. 7.
You actually have more than one weekend to save throughout the year because Texas technically has three tax-free weekends per year, two in the spring and one in the summer. The spring tax-free weekends are over for 2022, so look ahead to spring 2023 for emergency preparation and ENERGY STAR items. It’s good to be aware of the other two in case you are in the market for the exempt products that the spring sales will help you save on.
- Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday is your chance to save on preparations for your home in case of storm, flood or fire damage. If that’s on your to-buy list, it’ll be Saturday, April 22 through Monday, April 24, 2023.
- ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday is the time to buy an unlimited amount of qualifying products such as air conditioners, refrigerators, clothes washers, light bulbs, dishwashers, ceiling fans and dehumidifiers. If that’s on your to-buy list, it’ll be Saturday May 27 through Monday May 29, 2023.
We’ll tell you all about this summer’s Texas’ 2022 Tax-Free Weekend so you can mark your calendar and learn how to save as much as possible on back-to-school supplies.
What Is the Texas Tax-Free Weekend?
Texas Tax-Free Weekend is the annual summer sales tax holiday that focuses on tax-free items for back-to-school shopping. The goal is not only to help people save, but to inspire residents to get out and support Texas businesses. Spending limits are kept below $100 to make sure this helps out for essential items, rather than luxury items. The spring tax-free weekends are dedicated to helping Texans invest in preparing their homes for storms as well as adding energy-saving appliances.
How Do I Save During Texas Tax-Free Weekend?
When you shop for qualifying items from Friday, Aug. 5 through Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, you will save on Texas state sales tax, which is 6.25% as well as any local taxes (which vary) but will be a maximum of 8.25% when combined with Texas state tax.
The following items will qualify for tax exemption:
- Footwear priced under $100: Boat shoes, cross trainers, dress shoes, hiking boots, cowboy boots, flip-flops, jellies, running sneakers, safety shoes, sandals, slippers, tennis shoes and walking shoes.
- Clothing priced under $100: Jackets, jeans, dresses, jogging apparel, baby clothes, hunting and fishing vests, blouses, shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, tennis clothes, trousers, underclothes, pajamas, golf clothes, scout uniforms, workout clothes and raincoats.
- Accessories priced under $100: Baseball hats, rain hats, bow ties, neckties, children’s backpacks, belts, leather gloves, winter hats, scarves, shawls and wraps.
- School supplies priced under $100: Binders, chalk, book bags, calculators, cellophane tape, compasses, composition books, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, highlighters, index cards, school supply kits, legal pads, lunch boxes, markers, notebooks, paper, pencil boxes, pencil sharpeners, pencils, pens, protractors, rulers, scissors and writing tablets.
- Face masks priced under $100: Cloth and disposable fabric face masks.
What Popular Items Are Still Taxable During Texas Tax-Free Weekend?
There are some popular items that don’t qualify as tax-free; you will still have to pay tax on the following (a complete list can be found here):
- Accessories: Hair accessories, jewelry, purses, handbags, gym bags, wallets, watches, garden gloves and protective masks like N95.
- Sporting clothing and gear: Baseball pants, football pants, helmets, hockey gloves, shoulder pads, ski suits, life jackets, pads, chest protectors, water ski vests, wet and dry suits.
- Sports footwear: Baseball cleats, soccer cleats, tap dance, water sport products, skates, ski boots, bowling shoes, cleated climbing shoes, fishing waders and galoshes.
Can You Shop Texas’ Tax-Free Weekend Online?
Yes, you can shop Texas’ Tax-Free Weekend online as long as what you buy is officially purchased and the payment is processed within the three days from 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 5 until 11:59 p.m. on August 7, 2022. Specifically, your order has to have been processed and charged within the timeframe, but it doesn’t mean you have to receive the items before the end of the tax-free weekend.
- Watch out for shipping and handling fees on online purchases. For online purchases, the charge for shipping and handling is added on to the item and considered part of the overall item price. So even if your jacket was $95, the extra $7 shipping and handling fee would make the jacket $102, which would mean it no longer qualifies as tax-free since it’s over $100.
Can You Use Layaway During Texas Tax-Free Weekend?
Yes, you can save on layaway items during Texas Tax-Free Weekend. If, during the weekend, you make the final payment on an item already on layaway, or choose an item and place it on layaway these payments will be tax-free.
Are Coupons Allowed During Texas Tax-Free Weekend?
Yes, coupons are allowed during Texas Tax-Free Weekend, although as with any coupon be sure to read the fine print. Also, expect lots of sales as Texas retailers and Texas online merchants compete to attract your business. Check out Target and Walmart for some of the best back-to-school coupon offers.
Can You Return or Exchange Items During Texas Tax-Free Weekend?
Yes, you can still return or exchange items during Texas tax-free holidays, but make sure to have your original receipt. If you want full reimbursement for items purchased before tax-free holidays, you’ll need to prove with documentation that tax was paid with a valid receipt. For exchanges, if it’s the same item (different size, different color) no tax will be due. However, if you exchange an item after tax holiday for a different item, the new item is subject to sales tax.
If I Was Charged Tax During the Tax Holiday Can I Request a Refund of Tax Paid?
Yes, if the items you purchased qualify as exempt during a tax-free weekend you will qualify for a refund of the tax paid. Your refund can be either directly from the seller or the seller may give you a Form 00-985 and ask you to file for your refund with the Texas Comptroller’s office.
The post Texas Tax-Free Weekend: What to Know and How to Shop It appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
