{"id":1094,"date":"2025-07-17T02:09:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T02:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sprucemoney.com\/resource-center\/?p=1094"},"modified":"2025-07-17T20:22:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T20:22:39","slug":"back-to-school-tax-free-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sprucemoney.com\/resource-center\/savings\/back-to-school-tax-free-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Back-to-school shopping tax-free weekends and 9 more saving tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One minute it seems like you just got in your groove, living your summer life \u2014 and the next you see a Back-to-School sign and a whole different vibe takes hold. Suddenly, you\u2019re starting to think of shopping for the new school year and dreading \u201chow much is this going to cost me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Family<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re a parent shopping for your high school, middle school, or elementary school student or you\u2019re a college student getting your gear for classes, that school shopping list can get expensive fast, especially considering the impact of inflation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re starting to sweat it (and it\u2019s not the summer heat), don\u2019t fret your finances. Here\u2019s where back-to-school tax-free weekends and tips from Spruce can help you with real savings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back-to-school tax-free shopping and more saving tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pencils, markers, notebooks, calculators, computers, clothing items, shoes and more. It all adds up and can really wreck your budget. Thankfully, states offer dedicated state sales tax holiday weekends where you shop for certain back-to-school eligible items with no tax on the state level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help you take advantage of the tax holiday weekend in your state, we\u2019ve listed the weekends below. Lower in this post, we\u2019re also sharing other tips for back-to-school saving<\/a> and how Spruce can help you save along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back-to-school tax-free weekend 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When is the back-to-school tax-free weekend in your area? Check our infographic below and list to find the details for your state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tax-free weekend states and dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
State<\/th>Tax-free holiday dates<\/th>Resources<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Alabama<\/td>July 18-20, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/www.revenue.alabama.gov\/sales-use\/sales-tax-holidays\/<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Arkansas<\/td>Aug. 2-3, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/www.dfa.arkansas.gov\/office\/taxes\/excise-tax-administration\/sales-use-tax\/2024-sales-tax-holiday\/<\/td><\/tr>
Florida<\/td>Aug. 1-31, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/floridarevenue.com\/backtoschool\/Pages\/default.aspx<\/td><\/tr>
Iowa<\/td>Aug. 1-2, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/revenue.iowa.gov\/taxes\/tax-guidance\/sales-use-excise-tax\/iowas-annual-sales-tax-holiday<\/td><\/tr>
Maryland<\/td>Aug. 10-16, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/www.marylandcomptroller.gov\/about\/comptroller\/programs.html<\/td><\/tr>
Massachusetts<\/td>Aug. 9-10, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/sales-tax-holiday-frequently-asked-questions<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Mississippi<\/td>July 11-13, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/www.dor.ms.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2025%20Sales%20Tax%20Holiday.pdf<\/td><\/tr>
Missouri<\/td>Aug. 1-3, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/dor.mo.gov\/faq\/taxation\/business\/back-to-school-sales-tax-holiday.html<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
New Mexico<\/td>July 25-27, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/www.tax.newmexico.gov\/news-alerts\/tax-holiday\/<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Ohio<\/td>Aug. 1 \u2013 Aug. 14, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/tax.ohio.gov\/help-center\/faqs\/sales-and-use-tax-sales-tax-holiday\/sales%20and-use-tax-sales-tax-holiday<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Oklahoma<\/td>Aug. 1-3, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/oklahoma.gov\/content\/dam\/ok\/en\/tax\/documents\/resources\/publications\/infographics\/SalesTaxHoliday.pdf<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
South Carolina<\/td>Aug. 1-3, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/dor.sc.gov\/taxfreeweekend<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Tennessee<\/td>Jul. 25-27, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/www.tn.gov\/revenue\/taxes\/sales-and-use-tax\/sales-tax-holiday\/sth-traditional.html<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Texas<\/td>Aug. 8-10 2025<\/td>https:\/\/comptroller.texas.gov\/taxes\/publications\/98-490\/<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
West Virginia<\/td>Aug. 1-4, 2025<\/td>https:\/\/tax.wv.gov\/Business\/Pages\/Business.aspx<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

9 More back-to-school savings tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aside from tax-free holidays, you may be wondering \u201chow do you save on back to school?\u201d as you review your list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As many smart shoppers know, it may take a little of this and a little of that but using a few hacks here and there can mean real savings in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Determine what\u2019s a \u201cneed\u201d and what\u2019s a \u201cwant.\u201d<\/strong> Schools often provide a list of items you need for a specific grade or class.  You may have less wiggle room with your required school supplies, but you can <\/em>look for more affordable options. Other items on your list may be wishes, like several new outfits or pairs of shoes. For these personal items, consider creating a budget<\/a> to keep your spending in check. To help get you there, consider the consignment options mentioned next.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Shop consignment sales or second hand.<\/strong> Consignment sales have become popular shopping options for parents in the last few years. You can find everything from clothes and shoes, to backpacks, coats and lunch boxes \u2014 and save a ton compared to retail shopping. Even if you only buy some of your day-to-day school finds at a consignment or second-hand shop, you may save enough to better afford the brand name shoes your daughter needs for the volleyball team or the trombone lessons your son wants to get first chair in band.   <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Buy used electronics and textbooks<\/strong>. These can be pricy items, so finding used options can be a real money saver. In fact, if you\u2019re short on time for shopping, make these items your priority. It can be well worth it to save big bucks on a used calculator versus a few cents here and there on crayons or glue. Check your school\u2019s website for used textbook options and tech buy-back sites for tablets, laptops and more. Be sure to check these savings against what you might save on a back-to-school tax-free weekend sale to see which would give you the best deal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Compare prices.<\/strong> When back-to-school time hits, usually so do the ads in your mailbox.  Take a few minutes to see who is selling what and for how much. Don\u2019t forget to compare the sales price online as well. Then identify which one or two stores will let you shop your list for less. You\u2019re looking for overall savings versus driving all over town for individual items, which could burn up your savings in gas money.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Buy in bulk where possible.<\/strong> Consolidate your kids\u2019 lists and go for a 20-pack of folders and pens instead of buying them individually. If there are too many in a package or you have an only child, check the next grade\u2019s list. Chances are you\u2019ll need notebooks and other items again next year.  Or, find a neighbor or classmate and split up bulk items that you buy together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Use student discounts.<\/strong> Paying less as a student is for more than movie tickets. Many retailers will offer a student discount for anything from everyday clothing to name brands. One small catch here \u2014 keep your \u201cneeds\u201d and \u201cwants\u201d in mind and avoid buying more just because you\u2019re paying a little less.  Need help sticking to a plan? Check out our post on college student budget tips.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Find it for free.<\/strong> If you\u2019re trying to save money on a low income<\/a>, consider free options that might be in your area. This could be from organizations such as Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army or other community options in your area. Check out websites or social media pages that offer up supplies that people no longer want.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Think twice about buy-now, pay-later features.<\/strong> Shopping online? You might see an option during the check-out process that lets you split your purchase into multiple payments. While these options may not charge interest, there may be fees involved if you make late payments. The last thing you want to do is end up paying more unnecessarily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Encourage budget-minded shopping with your kids.<\/strong> Hitting the local retailer with your kids in tow can mean lots of extras making their way to your cart. While you\u2019ll have to “right size” the conversation depending on your kids’ ages, you can talk about how saving money now will let you buy something else later. Plus, it\u2019s helpful to let kids see you make the same decision for things on your <\/em>want list. See our related article: Family financial planning guide<\/a> .<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Back-to-school savings tools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Whether you\u2019re saving for this year\u2019s school expenses or want to get a jump on future years, a dedicated account for your savings can make all the difference. Many times, people have the intention of saving, but if you don\u2019t have a special place to tuck away savings, you can easily end up spending it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Saving with Spruce is easy and there are no monthly fees.<\/strong> Sometimes simple ways are the best ways to get started. With Spruce, you can start saving for school expenses in just a few clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can set up a saving goal<\/a> for your school expenses and add money to this account as often as you like. You can even set up automatic transfers to help keep you working towards your goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Related:<\/strong> Check out our savings calculator<\/a> to figure out how long it may take to reach your goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Get more help with money matters and financial tools with Spruce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Spruce is designed to help you be better with money. It\u2019s a mobile banking platform that gives you a spending account, a savings account, a way to get paid up to two days early