Master List: Sales Tax Holidays & Tax Free Weekends in 2024
Sales tax holidays can boost sales since consumers are often eager to spend money without the additional cost of sales tax. But these events can be challenging for online retailers. Understanding the timing and specifics of sales tax holidays across multiple jurisdictions is complicated for online businesses – despite being critical to ensure compliance.
The last thing any ecommerce retailer wants is to lose sales during key sales tax holidays because they forgot to set up the exemption – or worse – to provide sales tax exemptions for the wrong items.
We’re here to help you figure it out. In this post, we’ll give you an overview of the sales tax holidays that are currently scheduled for 2024 and link you to the guidelines that break down what’s covered and what isn’t.
What is a Sales Tax Holiday?
A sales tax holiday is a designated period of time during which a state waives or reduces sales tax on certain specified items or categories of items. Sales tax holidays typically last anywhere from a day to a couple of weeks. There are both annual sales tax holidays that happen every year and special sales tax holidays that are declared during specific years and might never recur.
Sales tax holidays are meant to encourage spending to stimulate the economy and make it cheaper for residents to purchase critical items. For example, many states have back-to-school sales tax holidays to reduce the cost of buying school supplies.
Do All States Have Sales Tax Holidays?
Not all states have sales tax holidays. In fact, only a handful of states do every year. However, at any point any state could decide to implement an annual sales tax holiday or a special sales tax holiday that will only take place that year. Sales tax holidays can be declared by the state government at any point in the year. Some states also allow for local sales tax holidays where cities that levy sales taxes can declare a sales tax holiday.
Does a Sales Tax Holidays Apply Online?
Sales tax holidays do indeed apply to all online sales to residents in that state. That means that if you own an ecommerce site, you’ll have to make sure not to charge sales tax to residents on included items during a sales tax holiday. Which means you have to keep track of sales tax holidays and understand what types of items are included in the sales tax holiday so that you’re still charging sales taxes on items you’re required to charge sales taxes on.
How Can I Stay on Top of Sales Tax Holidays?
To help you keep track of all the sales tax holidays in 2024, we’ve made you the list below. Missing a sales tax holiday could mean that you lose business from customers that are upset you’re charging tax during a sales tax holiday. However, it’s easy for online merchants to miss a sales tax holiday – especially if it’s one that doesn’t happen every year.
If you’re afraid of missing a sales tax holiday in 2024 – or if you already missed one – TaxCloud can keep track of all sales tax holidays and update your sales tax calculations for you automatically.
Alabama Sales Tax Holidays 2024
In 2024, Alabama will have two sales tax holidays that take place on weekends in February and July focused on severe weather preparedness and back-to-school.
In Alabama, the sales tax holidays apply to state sales taxes but might not apply to municipal sales tax.
Check for lists of participating counties.
February 23-25, 2024 – Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
- Portable generators – $1,000 or less
- Supplies (ex. Tarpaulin, duct tape, plywood batteries, food coolers) – $60 or less
Learn more here.
July 19-21, 2024 – Alabama annual back-to-school sales tax holiday
- Books – $30 or less
- Clothing – $100 or less (excluding accessories and protective equipment)
- Computers, computer software, and school computer supplies – $750 or less
- Non-commercial school supplies – $50 or less
Learn more here.
Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday 2024
In 2024, Arkansas will only have one sales tax holiday in August focused. All retailers are required to participate in the holiday, which applies to both state and local sales tax.
See this complete list of items exempted from tax.
August 3-4, 2024 – Arkansas Annual Sales Tax Holiday
- Clothing – $100 or less
- Clothing accessories and equipment – $50 or less
- Electronic devices – any price
- School supplies – any price
- School art supplies – any price
- School instructional materials – any price
Learn more here.
Connecticut Sales Tax Holiday 2024
In 2024, Connecticut will only have one sales tax holiday but the holiday applies only to state sales taxes.
See this list of all qualifying items.
August 18-24, 2024 – Connecticut Annual Sales Tax Free Week
- Clothing and footwear – $100 or less
Learn more here.
Florida Sales Tax Holiday 2024
Florida only has one announced sales tax holiday on the books at the moment but more are likely to be announced throughout the year. In Florida, businesses can opt out of some sales tax holidays if less than 5% of their gross sales in the previous calendar year are from qualifying items.
January 1-14, 2024- Florida back-to-school sales tax holiday,
- Clothing, wallets, and qualifying bags – $100 or less
- Qualifying school supplies – $50 or less
- Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles – $30 or less
- Personal computers and computer-related accessories – $1,500 or less
Learn more here.
Other Announced Florida Sales Tax Holidays for 2024
These are sales tax holidays that have been announced but don’t yet have a date.
- August Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday
- Two Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays
- A three month Freedom Summer Tax Holiday
- A Tool Time Sales Tax Holiday
Learn more here.
Iowa Sales Tax Holiday 2024
In 2024, Iowa will have one sales tax holiday that applies to both local and state taxes and which all businesses need to participate in.
See here for a list of all eligible items.
August 2-3, 2024 – Iowa Annual Sales Tax Holiday for Clothing and Shoes
- Qualifying items – $100 or less
Learn more here.
Louisiana Sales Tax Holiday 2024
While Louisiana used to have two other annual sales tax holidays, they canceled them until 2025. The only one that they have in 2024 is focused on the sale of firearms, other weapons like archery items, and accessories for hunting. Items are exempt from sales tax and can be exempt from local sales tax in participating jurisdictions.
September 6-8, 2024 – Louisiana Second Amendment sales tax holiday,
- Eligible ammunition, firearms, and hunting supplies
Learn more here.
Maryland Sales Tax Holiday 2024
Maryland has two sales tax holidays in 2024. As there are no local sales taxes in Maryland, the exemptions apply to state taxes only.
February 17-19, 2024 – Annual Shop Maryland energy weekend,
- Qualifying Energy Star products – any price
- Solar water heaters – any price
Learn more here.
August 11-17, 2024 – Annual Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week
- Clothing and footwear – $100 or less
- Backpacks and bookbags – only $40 is exempt
Learn more here.
Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday 2024
Massachusetts has only one sales tax holiday planned for 2024 but the date has yet to be announced. It applies to most retail items bought for personal use but there is a list of exemptions.
Date TBD – Massachusetts Annual Sales Tax Holiday
- Most items for personal use – $2,500 or less
Learn more here.
Mississippi Sales Tax Holiday 2024
Mississippi will have two sales tax holidays in 2024. While their July sales tax holiday allows municipalities to opt-out, their August/September sales tax holiday applies to both state and local taxes.
July 26-27, 2024 – Mississippi Annual Sales Tax Holiday
- Clothing and footwear – $100 or less
- Specific school supplies – $100 or less
Learn more here.
August 30-September 1, 2024 – Mississippi Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday
- Firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies (no price restriction)
- Safety devices and equipment (but not gun safes)
Learn more here.
Missouri Sales Tax Holiday 2024
In 2024, Missouri will celebrate two sales tax holidays. Both apply to both state and local sales tax.
April 19-25, 2024 – Missouri Annual ‘Show Me Green’ Sales Tax Holiday
- Qualifying Energy Star products – $1,500 or less
Learn more here.
August 2-4, 2024 – Missouri Annual Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday
- Clothing – $100 or less
- Personal computers and computer peripherals – $1,500 or less
- Computer software – $350 or less
- Graphing calculators – $150 or less
- School supplies – $50 or less
Learn more here.
Nevada Sales Tax Holiday 2024
Nevada has only one sales tax holiday in 2024. However, unlike most sales tax holidays that apply to everyone, this one only applies to members of Nevada’s National Guard.
October 25-27, 2024 – Nevada Day Sales Tax Holiday
- This only applies to members of Nevada’s National Guard.
- This applies to most personal property.
Learn more here.
New Jersey Sales Tax Holiday 2024
New Jersey has one sales tax holiday in 2024 around back-to-school time.
See here for more information about what’s eligible.
August 24-September 2, 2024 – New Jersey Annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
- Computers – $3,000 or less
- School computer supplies – $1,000 or less
- School art supplies – any price
- School instructional materials – any price
- School supplies – any price
- Sports or recreational equipment – any price
Learn more here.
New Mexico Sales Tax Holiday 2024
New Mexico does not have a sales tax but instead charges a gross receipts tax. The businesses often pass this tax to their customers separately or as part of the selling price. The state will have two sales tax holidays in 2024. In August, they’ll offer savings on back-to-school items and in November, they will allow small businesses to sell items tax-free.
August 2-4, 2024 – New Mexico Annual Back-to-School Tax Free Holiday
- Bookbags and backpacks – $100 or less
- Globes – $100 or less
- Clothing, footwear, and accessories – $100 or less
- Computers and tablets – $1,000 or less
- Computer peripherals – $500 or less
- Handheld calculators – $200 or less
- School supplies – $30 or less
Learn more here.
November 30, 2024 – New Mexico Small Business Saturday Tax Holiday
- Retail sales of personal property – $500 or less
- Only eligible for retailers whose primary place of business is in New Mexico and only employ 10 employees
Learn more here.
Ohio Sales Tax Holiday 2024
In 2024, Ohio will have just one sales tax holiday. Ohio’s sales tax holiday applies to both state and local taxes and participation is mandatory.
August 2-4, 2024 – Ohio Annual Sales Tax Holiday
- Clothing – $75 or less
- School instructional materials – $20 or less
- School supplies – $20 or less
Learn more here.
Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday 2024
Oklahoma has just one sales tax holiday in 2024. The state’s August sales tax holiday applies to state and local taxes and participation is mandatory.
August 2-4, 2024 – Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday
- Clothing and footwear – $100 or less
Learn more here.
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Holiday 2024
Puerto Rico has two sales tax holidays in 2024. The first took place in early January and focused on school supplies. The second one will take place in May but the exact dates of the sales tax holiday have yet to be announced.
January 4-5, 2024 – Puerto Rico Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
- School supplies – any price
- School uniforms and footwear – any price
Learn more here.
May 2024 (dates TBD) – Puerto Rico Hurricane Preparedness Sales and Use Tax-Free Period
- Portable generators – $3,000 or less
- Specified hurricane preparedness items – any price
Learn more here.
South Carolina Sales Tax Holiday 2024
South Carolina will have one sales tax holiday in 2024. Their sales tax holiday doesn’t have price restrictions and applies to both state and local taxes. Participation is mandatory.
August 2-4, 2024 – South Carolina Sales Tax Holiday
- Clothing and footwear – any price
- Computers, printers and printer supplies, and software – any price
- School supplies – any price
- Select bed and bath items – any price
Learn more here.
Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday 2024
Tennessee will have just one sales tax holiday in July in 2024. The holiday applies to both state and local taxes and participation is mandatory.
July 26-28, 2024 – Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday
- Apparel – $100 or less
- Computers, laptops, and tablets – $1,500 or less
- School supplies – $100 or less
- School art supplies – $100 or less
Learn more here.
Texas Sales Tax Holiday 2024
In 2024, Texas will have a number of sales tax holidays. All of them will apply to state and local taxes and participation is mandatory.
April 27-29, 2024 – Texas Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday
- Hurricane shutters and emergency ladders – $300 or less
- Portable generators – $3,000 or less
- Specified emergency preparation supplies – $75 or less
Learn more here.
May 25-27, 2024 – Texas Energy Star sales tax holiday,
- Energy Star air conditioners – $6,000 or less
- Energy Star refrigerators – $2,000 or less
- Specified Energy Star products – any price
Learn more here.
May 25-27, 2024 – Texas Water-Efficient Products Sales Tax Holiday
- Any WaterSense-labeled product – any price
- Certain other water-conserving products – any price
Learn more here.
August 9-11, 2024 – Texas Annual Sales Tax Holiday
- Clothing and footwear – $100 or less
- Specified school supplies – $100 or less
- School backpacks – $100 or less
Learn more here.
Virginia Sales Tax Holiday 2024
August 2-4, 2024 – Virginia Annual 3-day Sales Tax Holiday
- Clothing and footwear – $100 or less
- Energy Star and WaterSense products – $2,500 or less
- Gas-powered chain saws – $350 or less
- Portable generators – $1,000 or less
- School supplies – $20 or less
- Specified emergency and hurricane preparedness items – $60 or less
Learn more here.
West Virginia Sales Tax Holiday 2024
In 2024, West Virginia will have one sales tax holiday focused on back-to-school. The sales tax holiday will apply to both state and local taxes and is mandatory.
August 2-5, 2024 – West Virginia State Sales Tax Holiday
- Clothing and footwear – $125 or less
- Computers and tablets – $500 or less
- School instructional materials – $20 or less
- School supplies – $50 or less
- Sports equipment – $150 or less
Learn more here.
Remember Every Sales Tax Holiday
Staying on top of the schedule for each state’s sales tax holidays in 2024 is critically important for online retailers – especially with consumers becoming more price conscious over the last few years.
With items ranging from apparel and electronics to essential preparedness gear eligible for exemptions, almost all retailers will be impacted. Setting up your sales tax holiday exemptions should be easy if you have all your taxability information codes (TICs) up-to-date. Then, you can just automatically update your tax software to remove sales tax for those items.
Unsure if you’re doing it right? We can help you! Reach out and we’ll help ensure you apply the correct sales tax to all your orders – during a sales tax holiday and the rest of the year.
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