Tax free weekend in Tennessee is coming up

Published 1:50 pm Friday, July 19, 2024

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Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday is coming up next weekend. That means a tax free holiday on clothing, school supplies, and computers, just in time before the beginning of the school year.

As the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 26, Tennesseans can get some shopping relief until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 28.

During the holiday weekend, clothing, school supplies and computers will be available for purchase free of tax. Certain restrictions do apply. Don’t forget that items sold online are also eligible.

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“Items must be purchased for personal use, not for business or trade,” the state Department of Revenue said.

Here’s a look at what’s considered tax-free during the holiday:

CLOTHING:

Exempt: General apparel that costs $100 or less per item, such as shirts, pants, socks, shoes, dresses, etc.

Not exempt: Apparel items priced at more than $100; Items sold together, such as shoes, cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum; and items such as jewelry, handbags, or sports and recreational equipment

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:

Exempt: School and art supplies with a purchase price of $100 or less per item, such as binders, backpacks, crayons, paper, pens, pencils, and rulers, and art supplies such as glazes, clay, paints, drawing pads, and artist paint brushes

Not Exempt: School and art supplies individually priced at more than $100; Items that are normally sold together cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum

COMPUTERS: 

Exempt: Computers for personal use with a purchase price of $1,500 or less; and Laptop computers, if priced at $1,500 or less, also qualify as well as tablet computers

Not Exempt: Storage media, like flash drives and compact discs; individually purchased software; printer supplies; and household appliances

Tennesseans can save nearly 10% on qualifying clothing, school supplies, and computers during the sales tax holiday weekend.

While Tennessee does not have an individual income tax, the state ranks high when it comes to state and local sales tax rates. Tennessee’s general state tax rate is 7%, combined with local taxes rates, that figure rises to 9.55%, making the Volunteer State the state with the second highest average combined state and local sales tax rates, according to the Tax Foundation.