Save on School Supplies During the Texas Sales Tax Holiday August 7-9

If you've been waiting to do your back to school shopping, this is the weekend to get it done.

From Friday, August 7 to 11:59 PM Sunday, August 9, many back to school items, clothing, and shoes sold for under $100 will be exempt from sales tax.

If you're worried about being out and about during a pandemic, especially in crowded stores, the Texas Comptroller's Office has announced that certain online and telephone purchases will also be exempt.

Per a news release from the Comptroller's Office:

To promote social distancing, the Texas Comptroller’s office wants all taxpayers to know that during the Tax-Free Weekend, you can buy qualifying items online or by telephone, mail, custom order or any other means (including in-store purchases) tax free, when either

• the item is both delivered, and paid for, by the customer during the exemption; or
• the customer orders and pays for the item, and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period ends.

A seller accepts an order when the seller has acted to fill the order for immediate shipment.

An order is filled for immediate shipment regardless of whether the shipment is delayed due to a backlog of orders or because stock is currently unavailable to, or on back order by, the seller.

If you prefer to do your shopping in-store, the Comptroller's Office asks that you be mindful and courteous, practicing responsible physical distancing as much as possible and wearing a mask to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Check out these lists of qualifying items:

• Clothes, Footwear, Misc.
• School Supplies, Including Backpacks

If for some reason you're charged sales tax on an item that should have been exempt, you have every right to ask for a refund of the tax paid. They'll either need to grant you that refund directly or have you fill out one of these forms to claim a refund directly from the Comptroller's Office.

If you shop in-store, please take measures to protect yourself and others. Keep in mind that COVID-19 has not gone away, and the simple acts of wearing a mask and sanitizing your hands can help save lives.

If you're able to budget in a few extra supplies, we can put them to good use in the community with our Stuff the Bus campaign. We want to help ensure that every Central Texas student starts the school year with the items essential to academic success.

See a list of Stuff the Bus drop-off locations and our Amazon Wishlist here, and thank you so much for the help!