Tax-Free Tech: Every State Offering a Sales Tax Holiday for Computers and Electronics

It’s arguably the most expensive time of the year for parents and college students: back-to-school season. If you’re dreading buying big-ticket school essentials, like a new laptop, you might be able to save some extra money by shopping during your state’s sales-tax holiday event.

This year, 18 states (plus Puerto Rico) are holding sales tax holiday shopping events, during which eligible back-to-school items are exempt from sales tax. Nine of these states will not charge sales tax on tech purchases, including laptops, personal computers, and tablets.

With inflation still high and the RAM crisis continuing to drive the cost of PCs, finding easy ways to save on back-to-school tech is crucial. Shopping sales and secondhand can help ease the burden, and if you time your purchase with your state’s sales tax holiday, you could keep a little extra cash in your bank account.

Here’s every state that’s holding a sales tax holiday this summer, and when to shop.

Which States are Offering Sales Tax Exemptions on Tech?

There are 9 states offering sales tax exemptions on computers and tech during summer sales tax holidays. They are:

Full 2026 Sales Tax Holiday Schedule and Eligible Items by State

Here’s a full overview of every US state and territory offering sales-free back-to-school shopping events this summer.

Alabama

Sales tax holiday dates: July 17 – July 19, 2026
Items included: Clothing up to $156, school supplies up to $78, computers up to $1,173, books up to $47 (per item). See the full list here.
Notes: Local municipalities can opt in/out; more than 300 cities/counties waive local tax.

Arkansas

Sales tax holiday dates: August 1 – August 2, 2026
Items included: Clothing and accessories up to $100 per item, school supplies (no strict limit), select electronics (no strict limit). See the full list here.
Notes: Applies to state and local sales tax; participation is mandatory for retailers.

Connecticut

Sales tax holiday dates: August 16 – August 22, 2026
Items included: Clothing and footwear up to $300 per item. Includes standard back-to-school apparel; excludes athletic uniforms and luxury goods. See the full list here.

Florida

Sales tax holiday dates: July 20 – August 20, 2026
Items included: Clothing, footwear, and accessories up to $100, school supplies up to $50, computers and electronic accessories up to $1,500, learning aids and puzzles up to $30 (per item). See the full list here.

Illinois

Sales tax holiday dates: August 7 – August 16, 2026
Items included: Clothing, footwear, and select school supplies up to $125 per item. See the full list here.
Note: Illinois does not eliminate sales tax during this event. Instead, it is lowered by 5%.

Iowa

Sales tax holiday dates: August 7 – August 8, 2026
Items included: Clothing and footwear up to $100 per item. See the full list here.

Maryland

Sales tax holiday dates: August 9 – August 15, 2026
Items included: Clothing and footwear up to $100 per item, backpacks (first $40 is exempt). See the full list here.

Massachusetts

Sales tax holiday dates: August 8 – August 9, 2026
Items included: Most retail items up to $2,500 per item. Full list here.
Notes: Broad retail holiday that excludes alcohol, electricity, gas, meals, motor vehicles, motorboats, tobacco, and more.

Mississippi

Sales tax holiday dates: July 10 – July 12, 2026
Items included: Clothing, footwear, and school supplies up to $100 per item. See the full list here.

Missouri

Sales tax holiday dates: August 7 – August 9, 2026
Items included: Clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $50, computer software up to $350, computers up to $1,500. See the full list here.

New Mexico

Sales tax holiday dates: July 31 – August 2, 2026
Items included: Clothing and footwear up to $100, school supplies up to $30, computers up to $1,000, computer hardware up to $500 (per item). See the full list here.
Notes: Retailers are not required to participate.

Ohio

Sales tax holiday dates: August 7 – August 9, 2026
Items included: Clothing up to $75, school supplies up to $20, school instructional materials up to $2 (per item). See the full list here.

Oklahoma

Sales tax holiday dates: August 7 – August 9, 2026
Items included: Clothing and footwear up to $100 per item. See the full list here.
Notes: Exemptions do not apply to most athletic wear.

Puerto Rico

Sales tax holiday dates: July 17 – July 18, 2026
Items included: School uniforms, footwear, and school supplies (no specified limit). See the full list here.

South Carolina

Sales tax holiday dates: August 7 – August 9, 2026
Items included: Clothing, footwear, school supplies, computers, bed and bath items (no specified limit). See the full list here.

Tennessee

Sales tax holiday dates: July 31 – August 2, 2026
Items included: Clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $100, computers up to $1,500 (per item). See the full list here.

Texas

Sales tax holiday dates: August 7 – August 9, 2026
Items included: Clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks up to $100 per item. See the full list here.

Virginia

Sales tax holiday dates: August 7 – August 9, 2026
Items included: Clothing and footwear up to $100, school supplies up to $20 (per item). See the full list here.

West Virginia

Sales tax holiday dates: July 31 – August 3, 2026
Items included: Clothing up to $125, school supplies up to $50, computers up to $500, instructional materials up to $20, sports equipment up to $150 (per item). See the full list here.

What Are Sales Tax Holidays?

Also known as ‘tax-free weekends’, a state sales tax holiday is a statewide event where sales tax is temporarily paused or reduced on certain items. Many states hold these events during the back-to-school shopping season. Items that are typically exempt from tax during these events include clothing, school supplies, and computers (laptops and tablets).

If you live in a state that also imposes local sales tax, it may also be exempt during the event. This varies by state and county.

Do Sales Tax Holiday Exemptions Apply to Online Purchases?

Yes, you’ll be able to shop tax-free even at online retailers like Amazon and Apple during your state’s event.

Can Sales Tax Holidays Really Save You Money on Laptops, Desktops, and Tablets?

Shopping for school supplies during a tax-free event can help you save a little extra, especially if you need to purchase a big-ticket item, like a new laptop or desktop.

Let’s say you plan to purchase a new MacBook Neo, which starts at $599 for students. If you live in Massachusetts, which has a 6.25% state sales tax rate, this would cost you $636.44 after tax. So, you could save $37.44 on one new MacBook Neo (with the student discount) by shopping during this tax holiday.

If you need a MacBook with more power, we recommend the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5) as our top pick for most college students. This starts at $1,149. Using the same example from Massachusetts, with the 6.25% sales tax tacked on, this MacBook would cost you $1,220.81. If you were to buy this laptop during the sales tax holiday, you’d save $71.81.

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Can You Save on Refurbished Tech During Sales Tax Holidays?

Yes, if you live in a state that’s offering sales tax exemptions on computers and electronics, you won’t pay sales tax on used tech during the sales tax holidays. Shopping secondhand is one of the best ways to beat rising computer prices. We even have tips on how to find the best value when shopping for refurbished computers and tablets.

Are There States That Never Charge Sales Tax?

Yes, there are five US states that do not impose a state-level sales tax. They are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska does, however, charge a local sales tax.

Will You Pay Local Sales Tax During Sales Tax Holidays?

If you live in a city or county that levies local sales tax, it may be temporarily paused for eligible items during your state’s sales tax holiday. This varies across cities, counties, and states, so check your local state and city website for more information.

My State Doesn’t Have a Tax Holiday. Can I Shop In Another State?

Technically, yes, you can travel to another state to shop tax-free during that state’s sales tax holiday. However, if you bring the items you purchased back to your home state, you might be required to list these items on your taxes next year and pay use tax on them.

Is New Jersey Holding a Sales Tax Holiday This Year?

New Jersey used to hold tax-free weekends in the summer for the back-to-school season. Its sales tax holiday was officially repealed in 2024, and the state has not held a tax-free holiday since.