Sales Tax Holidays 2025: State-by-State Calendar + Seller Prep Checklist

Sales tax holidays can drive traffic, boost sales, and build goodwill with shoppers. But they can also be a compliance minefield for sellers who don’t know the rules.

If you’re selling into multiple states, a single missed exemption can lead to customer complaints, audit risk, or both. And most platforms won’t automatically adjust your sales tax settings for you.

That’s where this guide comes in.

We’ve compiled a full breakdown of 2025 sales tax holidays by state, plus a quick overview of how they work, what sellers need to prepare, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

The TL;DR on Sales Tax Holidays for Sellers

Here’s what you actually need to know:

• Participation is mandatory in most states if you collect sales tax there.
• Forgetting to remove tax at checkout? That’s a compliance issue and potential customer frustration.
• Your ecommerce platform won’t adjust tax rates automatically unless you’ve properly set up exemptions.
• You’re on the hook for knowing which states are active, what’s exempt, and where the price caps kick in.
• You’re required to participate in most states if you collect sales tax and sell qualifying items.
• You’ll need to track which states are active, what products qualify, and the price limits.
• If your product isn’t covered by the holiday’s exemptions, it’s still taxable as usual.

Sales Tax Holidays 2025: At a Glance

Sales Tax Holidays 2025: State-by-State Breakdown

Each state below has one or more tax-free periods scheduled for 2025. We’ve summarized the key exemptions, price thresholds, and important seller requirements — including whether participation is mandatory and how local tax applies.

For the most accurate and up-to-date guidance, always consult your state’s official Department of Revenue site (linked in each entry).

Alabama

Severe Weather Preparedness Holiday

Dates: February 21–23, 2025

Exemptions: Portable generators ≤ $1,000, supplies (batteries, flashlights, coolers, etc.) ≤ $60

Participation: Mandatory for state sales tax; local governments must opt in.

Additional guidance: Starting October 1, 2025, local governments must adopt ordinances at least 90 days in advance to participate. Price caps will adjust every 5 years based on CPI.

Back-to-School Holiday

Dates: July 18–20, 2025

Exemptions: Books ≤ $30, clothing ≤ $100, school supplies ≤ $50, computers and school-related tech ≤ $750

Participation: Mandatory for state; local governments opt in.

Source: Alabama Department of Revenue

Alaska

Local Holidays Only

Dates: Varies by municipality

Exemptions: Determined by each locality (e.g., Skagway retail holiday through March 31, 2025)

Participation: Local governments choose participation.

Additional guidance: Alaska has no statewide sales tax, but local jurisdictions may offer temporary tax-free periods.

Source: Municipality of Skagway

Arkansas

Annual Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 2–3, 2025

Exemptions: Clothing < $100, accessories < $50, school supplies and electronics (no price cap)

Participation: Mandatory for state and local tax

Additional guidance: Applies to both in-person and online transactions; sellers must exclude tax from exempt items during the holiday period.

Source: Arkansas DFA

Connecticut

Sales Tax‑Free Week

Dates: August 17–23, 2025

Exemptions: Clothing and footwear under $100 per item — including online purchases, provided the item is paid for in full during the Hawaii Week (even if delivery occurs later).

Participation: Mandatory for state sales tax; Connecticut has no local sales tax.

Additional guidance: The $100 cap applies per item, not per transaction. Items like athletic gear, jewelry, wallets, umbrellas, and luggage are not exempt, even if priced under $100. Coupon-discounted purchases that bring an item’s final price below $100 qualify; rebates applied after purchase do not affect exemption eligibility.

Source: Connecticut DRS – 2025 Sales Tax Free Week

Florida

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 1–31, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing, footwear, wallets, and bags ≤ $100
• School supplies ≤ $50
• Learning aids and puzzles ≤ $30
• Computers and accessories ≤ $1,500

Participation: Mandatory for state sales tax. Local taxes also waived unless otherwise specified.

Additional guidance: Exemptions don’t apply to purchases made at theme parks, entertainment complexes, hotels, or airports. Remote sellers must ensure proper configuration of product codes and checkout logic to apply exemptions.

Source: Florida Department of Revenue – Sales Tax Holiday Information

Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: September 8–December 31, 2025

Exemptions:

• Firearms, bows, crossbows, and accessories
• Ammunition
• Camping supplies (e.g., tents ≤ $200, lanterns ≤ $30, hammocks, sleeping bags, stoves)
• Fishing gear (e.g., tackle ≤ $5–$10, rods ≤ $75–$150, boxes ≤ $30)

Participation: Mandatory for state sales tax.

Additional guidance: This seasonal exemption was expanded in 2025 and now includes a wide range of outdoor products, but commercial use items are excluded. Sellers must exclude airport and theme park purchases from the exemption.

Source: Florida Department of Revenue – Disaster Preparedness & Second Amendment Holidays

Iowa

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 1–2, 2025 (Friday and Saturday only)

Exemptions:

• Clothing and footwear priced under $100 per item

Participation: Mandatory for both state and local sales tax. All retailers open during the holiday must comply.

Additional guidance: Applies to in-person and online sales, provided the order is placed and paid for during the exemption window. Iowa does not exempt accessories, rentals, or protective gear.

Source: Iowa Department of Revenue – Sales Tax Holiday

Louisiana

Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday (TBD for 2025)

Dates: Tentatively September 5–7, 2025 (subject to reenactment)

Exemptions:

• Ammunition, firearms, hunting supplies (no price limit)

Participation: Applies to state sales tax; local tax exemptions may vary by jurisdiction.

Additional guidance: The holiday is slated to expire June 30, 2025. Lawmakers may reinstate or replace it with other holidays. Sellers should wait for final confirmation from the Louisiana Department of Revenue before adjusting systems.

Source: Louisiana Department of Revenue

Maryland

Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: February 15–17, 2025

Exemptions:

• Energy Star appliances (no price cap)
  Solar water heaters

Participation: Mandatory for state sales tax. Maryland has no local tax.

Additional guidance: Applies only to qualifying Energy Star products for residential use. Commercial purchases are not exempt.

Source: Maryland Comptroller – Energy Star Weekend

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 10–16, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing and footwear ≤ $100
• Backpacks and bookbags: First $40 is tax-free

Participation: Mandatory for state sales tax.

Additional guidance: Applies to online and in-store sales, as long as the purchase is paid for during the exemption period. Maryland offers specific guidance on bundled items and multipacks.

Source: Maryland Comptroller – Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week

Massachusetts

Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 9–10, 2025

Exemptions:

• Tangible personal property ≤ $2,500 (per item)

Participation: Mandatory for all businesses, including online sellers. Applies to state sales tax only (no local tax in MA).

Additional guidance: Includes electronics, furniture, clothing, and other goods. Does not apply to meals, cars, motorboats, tobacco, marijuana, or telecommunications services. The state will cancel and reschedule the holiday if technical issues interfere.

Source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue

Mississippi

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: July 11–13, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing and footwear < $100
• School supplies < $100

Participation: Mandatory for state tax. Municipalities may opt out of local tax participation.

Additional guidance: Sellers must remove tax at checkout during the holiday for eligible items. Merchants should confirm whether local sales tax is waived in their jurisdiction.

Source: Mississippi Department of Revenue – Sales Tax Holidays

Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 29–31, 2025

Exemptions:

• Firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies
• Safety devices and equipment (excluding safes)

Participation: Mandatory for both state and local tax.

Additional guidance: Applies broadly across product categories, but merchants should consult the official guidance to avoid misclassifying non-qualifying items.

Source: Mississippi Department of Revenue – Sales Tax Holidays

Missouri

Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: April 19–25, 2025

Exemptions:

• Energy Star-certified appliances priced ≤ $1,500

Participation: Applies to state and local sales tax. Participation is now mandatory for local jurisdictions.

Additional guidance: Items over $1,500 are partially exempt—only the first $1,500 is tax-free. Applies to both personal and business purchases.

Source: Missouri Department of Revenue – Energy Star Holiday

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 1–3, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing ≤ $100
• School supplies ≤ $50
• Graphing calculators ≤ $150
• Personal computers and peripherals ≤ $1,500
• Computer software ≤ $350

Participation: Mandatory for state and local jurisdictions as of 2023.

Additional guidance: Online sales qualify if the order is placed and paid for during the exemption window. Sellers must exclude tax on qualifying items and re-enable tax settings afterward.

Source: Missouri Department of Revenue – Back to School Holiday

Nevada

Nevada Day Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: October 31–November 2, 2025

Exemptions:

• Retail sales to Nevada National Guard members or qualifying relatives

Participation: Applies to qualifying sales only. Retailers must collect tax at the point of sale; eligible buyers must apply for a refund from the state.

Additional guidance: This is a highly specific exemption. Qualifying buyers must present a valid letter of exemption and file for a refund within 30 days.

Source: Nevada Department of Taxation – Nevada Day Info

New Mexico

Back-to-School Gross Receipts Tax Holiday

Dates: August 1–3, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing, footwear, accessories < $100
• Bookbags, backpacks, maps, globes < $100
• School supplies < $30
• Calculators < $200
• Computers < $1,000
• Computer accessories < $500

Participation: Retailers may opt in; participation is not mandatory.

Additional guidance: New Mexico has a gross receipts tax, not a traditional sales tax. Retailers must choose to participate and adjust systems accordingly to claim deductions.

Source: New Mexico Taxation & Revenue – Tax Holiday

Ohio

Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 1–14, 2025

Exemptions:

• Most tangible personal property < $500
• Includes business purchases

Participation: Mandatory for all sellers with nexus in Ohio. Applies to both state and local tax.

Additional guidance: This is one of the longest and broadest sales tax holidays in the U.S. Make sure your systems can handle wide exemptions and train your team to distinguish between qualifying and non-qualifying goods.

Source: Ohio Department of Taxation – Sales Tax Holiday

Oklahoma

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 1–3, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing and footwear < $100

Participation: Mandatory for state and local tax.

Additional guidance: Accessories, protective equipment, and rentals are excluded. Online orders must be paid for and processed during the exemption window.

Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission – Sales Tax Holiday

Puerto Rico

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays

Dates: January 10–11 and July 12–13, 2025

Exemptions:

• School uniforms and footwear
• School supplies

Participation: Mandatory for businesses selling qualifying items.

Additional guidance: Applies to both state and municipal sales taxes. Puerto Rico also typically announces a separate hurricane preparedness holiday each year—details for 2025 are still pending.

Source: Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Hacienda)

South Carolina

Sales Tax Holiday Weekend

Dates: August 1–3, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing and footwear
• School supplies
• Computers, printers, software, and select electronics
• Bed and bath items (e.g., sheets, towels, mattresses)

Participation: Mandatory for state and local tax.

Additional guidance: There are no price caps in South Carolina. However, business-use items, cell phones, and layaway purchases are excluded. This is one of the broadest tax holidays—prepare your POS carefully to avoid charging tax on exempt items.

Source: South Carolina Department of Revenue – Tax-Free Weekend

Tennessee

Sales Tax Holiday Weekend

Dates: July 25–27, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing ≤ $100
• School supplies ≤ $100
• Computers, laptops, tablets ≤ $1,500

Participation: Mandatory for all retailers selling eligible items.

Additional guidance: Items purchased for business use are not exempt. Be sure to remove sales tax at checkout and reinstate it afterward. Applies to both state and local sales tax.

Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue – Sales Tax Holiday

Texas

Emergency Prep Holiday

Dates: April 26–28, 2025

Exemptions:

• Portable generators < $3,000
• Hurricane shutters, ladders < $300
• Emergency supplies (batteries, fuel containers, etc.) < $75

Participation: Mandatory for state and local tax.

Additional guidance: Contractors can also buy eligible items tax-free to keep in inventory—no resale certificate needed.

Source: Texas Comptroller – Emergency Preparation Supplies

Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: May 24–26, 2025

Exemptions:

• Energy Star ACs < $6,000
• Refrigerators < $2,000
• Other qualifying Energy Star items (no cap)

Participation: Mandatory.

Additional guidance: Designed to encourage energy-efficient purchases. Available to both consumers and service providers.

Source: Texas Comptroller – Energy Star Holiday

Water-Efficient Products Holiday

Dates: May 24–26, 2025

Exemptions:

• WaterSense-labeled products (no cap)
• Other water-saving items (residential use only)

Participation: Mandatory.

Additional guidance: Contractors and landscapers can buy qualifying items tax-free for resale or inventory.

Source: Texas Comptroller – Water-Efficient Products

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 8–10, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing and footwear < $100
• School supplies and backpacks < $100

Participation: Mandatory.

Additional guidance: Remote and online sellers must also comply if they have nexus in Texas.

Source: Texas Comptroller – Back-to-School Holiday

Virginia

Combined Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 1–3, 2025

Exemptions:

• School supplies ≤ $20
• Clothing and footwear ≤ $10
• Hurricane prep supplies (generators ≤ $1,000, chain saws ≤ $350, other items ≤ $60)
• Energy Star and WaterSense products ≤ $2,500

Participation: Mandatory for both state and local tax.

Additional guidance: Virginia’s tax holiday was reinstated in 2025 and is now scheduled to recur annually through 2030. Applies to purchases for non-commercial home or personal use.

Source: Virginia Department of Taxation – Sales Tax Holiday

West Virginia

Sales Tax Holiday

Dates: August 1–4, 2025

Exemptions:

• Clothing and footwear ≤ $125
• School instructional materials ≤ $20
• School supplies ≤ $50
• Sports equipment ≤ $150
• Computers (laptops/tablets) ≤ $500

Participation: Mandatory for state and local tax.

Additional guidance: Items purchased for business use do not qualify. Make sure to audit your checkout flow to prevent accidental charges on exempt goods.

Source: West Virginia State Tax Department – Sales Tax Holiday

Common Pitfalls During Sales Tax Holidays

Even seasoned sellers get caught off guard. Here’s where things go wrong most often:

1. Charging tax on exempt items

If the holiday covers your products, you’re legally required to remove sales tax at checkout. Forgetting to do so — or assuming your platform handles it — can result in compliance violations and customer backlash.

2. Relying too much on your ecommerce platform

Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms don’t automatically update tax settings for these holidays. Unless you’ve manually configured exemptions or overrides, you’ll likely charge tax when you shouldn’t.

3. Missing the fine print on local tax

Some states allow cities or counties to opt out of sales tax holidays. You might remove state tax and still be liable for local rates — unless you check participation maps or guidance from your state’s tax agency.

4. Misreading start and end times

Most holidays begin at 12:01 a.m. and end at midnight, but some states vary, and time zones matter for remote sellers. Mistiming your settings could cause you to miss the window.

5. Thinking you can opt out

In most states, if you’re registered to collect sales tax, you’re required to participate. Opting out isn’t allowed, and skipping it could expose you to audits.

What If You Charge Sales Tax During a Sales Tax Holiday by Mistake?

Mistakes happen — especially during fast-moving sales tax holidays. If you accidentally charge tax on an item that should’ve been exempt, here’s what you can do to make it right for your customer and your books:

1. Refund the tax directly to the customer

If they reach out, this is usually the easiest fix. It avoids complaints and keeps customer trust intact.

2. If you’ve already remitted the tax, contact your state

You may be able to file an amended return or request a refund through the tax authority.

3. Don’t ignore it

Even small compliance issues can lead to audit flags. It’s better to fix the mistake than hope no one notices.

4. Update your system to prevent it next time

Make sure your product tax codes, exemptions, and POS settings are up to date—especially before your next sales tax holiday.

Remember, if you’re using TaxCloud, you’re covered. TaxCloud automatically applies holiday exemptions in real time—no manual overrides, no messy refunds, no compliance stress.

Seller Checklist: How to Prepare Your Business for a Sales Tax Holiday

Use this checklist to prep your store, avoid mistakes, and breeze through sales tax holidays without scrambling at the last minute:

✅ Know where you have nexus

You’re only required to participate in states where you collect sales tax.

✅ Check if your products qualify

Sales tax holidays only apply if the products you sell match the state’s exemptions and price caps.

✅ Mark your calendar

Most tax holidays start at 12:01 a.m. and end at midnight — but exact times vary. Time zones matter.

✅ Update your checkout settings

Most ecommerce platforms won’t adjust rates automatically unless you’ve configured exemptions manually or use a tool like TaxCloud.

✅ Adjust product tax codes if needed

Make sure items like clothing, computers, or school supplies are properly classified ahead of the holiday.

✅ Communicate with your team (or customers)

If you’re running a retail store or handling fulfillment manually, make sure everyone knows what to charge — and what not to.

✅ Reinstate tax settings after the holiday ends

This one’s easy to forget. Schedule a reminder to toggle your rates back on.

Stay Ahead of the Tax Holiday Chaos

Sales tax holidays might feel like a customer-friendly bonus. But for sellers, they’re anything but simple. If you’re operating in multiple states or selling tax-exempt goods, you’ve got a legal obligation to keep up with every rule, exemption, and price cap.

And if you get it wrong? You could face refund demands, compliance headaches, or worse — an audit.

That’s why more sellers are turning to sales tax automation platforms like TaxCloud.

TaxCloud handles holiday exemptions, price thresholds, and jurisdiction-specific rules for every U.S. sales tax holiday — automatically. No manual overrides, no missed updates, no last-minute panic.

✅ Real-time tax adjustments across 13,000+ jurisdictions

✅ Automatic holiday updates synced to your product catalog

✅ Filing, remittance, and reporting in one platform