Sales Tax Holiday: Here’s the Tax-Free Weekend in 2023 for Every State

A sales tax holiday can save you a good chunk of money — if you know when it is and how it works. In 2023, July and August are opportunities to save money in many states, especially if you're looking for back-to-school deals. But there are tax-free holidays sprinkled throughout the year on other categories, including emergency- and weather-preparedness items, energy-saving appliances and hunting supplies.

Here's what you need to know to take advantage of a sales tax holiday.

What is a sales tax holiday?

A sales tax holiday is a period of time during which many states remove sales tax on certain types of items. Often, the tax-free benefits are limited to a single weekend, but sometimes there are much longer terms.

Sales tax holidays typically restrict eligible purchases by criteria such as product and price. For example, you might be able to purchase computer models that cost up to $1,000 tax-free, but not ones that cost more.

» MORE: See how to deduct sales taxes on your tax return

When is the sales tax holiday or tax-free weekend in my state?

Sales tax holidays vary by location — and not every state has one. In some cases, the state sales tax may be zero during the holiday, but stores might still have to collect a city or local sales tax. Keep in mind that some states already don't collect a state sales tax. Local governments (the city or county, for example) can still levy tax in those states, though.

Here’s a look at the states with sales tax holidays in 2023 and the items that will be tax-free, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators.

» MORE: See which states don't have income taxes

How to save big with a sales tax holiday

Here are some tips for leveraging sales tax holidays to save money:

• For back-to-school savings, reserve major purchases like laptops for the tax-free periods in late July or August. For weather-preparedness savings, try to time purchases with tax holidays sprinkled throughout the year.

• Keep an eye on the price tags. Typically, only items priced below the limit qualify for the tax-free treatment. When back-to-school shopping for new outfits, for example, if the limit is $100 on clothing then, as long as each piece of clothing in your cart is priced below $100, you should save on sales tax for those items. But if the limit on shoes is also $100 and you're buying a pair priced at $125, you might have to pay sales tax on them.

• Check with the state for exceptions. Before you start shopping, head to your state's taxation and revenue website and find out if there are unusual exceptions. Previously in New Mexico, for example, clothing was part of its tax-free weekend, but sports uniforms and bathing suits didn't count, which meant they were still taxable.

• Shop around. Eliminating sales tax shouldn’t be your only means of saving money. Check out local kids consignment shops for clothes and shoes not covered by the tax-free holiday. You might also try using websites like Google Shopping or apps such as Flipp to search for products by name and compare their prices at multiple merchants. Doing research ahead of time for bigger purchases, like Energy Star appliances or hurricane-preparedness items, is also key.