{"id":31962,"date":"2026-08-08T05:53:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=31962"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:53:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:53:24","slug":"tax-free-weekend-august-2026-laptops-school-supplies-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=31962","title":{"rendered":"Tax-free weekend August 2026: Laptops, school supplies, and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article\">\n<p><strong>TL;DR: <\/strong>Now through Aug. 9, several states are waiving or cutting sales tax on select purchases. To get the biggest savings, skip the cheap school supplies and use the tax break on high-dollar items like <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/category\/laptops\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">laptops<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/category\/power-stations\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">power stations<\/a>, and home tech.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>I hate <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/category\/tax-filing\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">paying taxes<\/a> as much as anyone, so whenever there&#8217;s a (legal) way to keep a little extra cash in my wallet, I&#8217;m going to take full advantage of it.<\/p>\n<p>This weekend is the biggest <a href=\"https:\/\/taxfoundation.org\/data\/all\/state\/sales-tax-holidays-by-state-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">tax-free shopping event<\/a> of the year. While state lawmakers pitch these sales tax holidays as a nice little break for families buying notebooks and backpacks, buying cheap school supplies only saves you a couple of bucks. If you want to make the tax break worth your time, you should use it on high-ticket tech items where skipping the tax saves real money.<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-3xl font-sans text-lg leading-normal md:text-xl md:leading-7\">\n        <span class=\"font-bold text-primary-400\">SEE ALSO:<\/span><br \/>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/tech\/best-laptops-college-2026-tested\" class=\"flex items-center text-secondary-300\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"ml-1\">We found the 6 best laptops for college students going back to school<\/span><br \/>\n            <svg class=\"ml-1 w-4 h-4 font-normal fill-current\"><use href=\"http:\/\/mashable.com\/images\/icons\/spritemap.svg#sprite-arrow-right-thin\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s the breakdown of every state participating this weekend (plus a few running sales through August), along with the best ways to maximize your savings.<\/p>\n<h2>State-by-state breakdown <\/h2>\n<h3>Active this weekend (Aug. 7\u20139)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Iowa (Aug. 7-8): <\/strong>Clothing and footwear under $100 per item.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Illinois (Aug. 7-16): <\/strong>The state isn&#8217;t eliminating the tax completely, but it is lowering the state sales tax rate from 6.25% to 1.25% on qualifying clothing (under $125) and school supplies.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Massachusetts (Aug. 8-9): <\/strong>All personal retail purchases of $2,500 or less per item are tax-free.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Missouri (Aug. 7-9): <\/strong>Covers clothing ($100 or less), software ($350 or less), graphing calculators ($150 or less), and computers and accessories up to $1,500 per item.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Ohio (Aug. 7-9): <\/strong>Clothing ($75 or less) and school supplies ($20 or less).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Oklahoma (Aug. 7-9): <\/strong>Clothing and footwear under $100.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>South Carolina (Aug. 7-9): <\/strong>Hands-down the best state to shop in this weekend. They waive tax on computers, printers, software, school supplies, and bed\/bath products with no price caps.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Texas (Aug. 7-9): <\/strong>Clothing, footwear, and backpacks under $100.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Virginia (Aug. 7-9): <\/strong>Clothing ($100 or less), school supplies ($20 or less), and Energy Star items ($2,500 or less), plus portable generators up to $1,000 and gas chainsaws up to $350.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Other August sales tax holidays to keep on your radar:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Florida (July 20 to Aug. 20): <\/strong>Computers and accessories up to $1,500, clothing up to $100, and school supplies up to $50.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Maryland (Aug. 9-15): <\/strong>Clothing and footwear ($100 or less) and the first $40 of a backpack purchase.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Connecticut (Aug. 16-22): <\/strong>Clothing and footwear under $300 per item.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Mississippi (Aug. 28-30): <\/strong>Firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies with no price cap.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Yes, you can shop online <\/h3>\n<p>These tax breaks still apply if you shop online from your couch! As long as your shipping address is in a participating state, online retailers are legally required to honor the sales tax holiday. Just keep a close eye on the final total before you click &#8220;buy.&#8221; Different states have varying rules about how shipping and handling fees are treated. If a shipping charge accidentally bumps your laptop over your state&#8217;s price limit, it might suddenly become taxable.<\/p>\n<h2>The 3 best big-ticket deals to shop this weekend<\/h2>\n<p>To get the best deals, look for the categories where states set high price limits (or no limits at all).<\/p>\n<h3>1. Mid-range laptops under $1,500 (Florida and Missouri)<\/h3>\n<p>If you live in Florida or Missouri, your state caps the tax-free limit on computers at $1,500 per item.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to look for:<\/strong> Current-generation laptops priced between $500 and $1,200. Stacking an existing retailer markdown with a 4% to 6% tax drop saves you anywhere from $30 to $80 on top of the sale price.<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex relative flex-col p-6 max-w-3xl mx-auto mt-8 mb-16 font-sans border border-gray-100 pogoClear md:flex-row\" data-commerce-block=\"\">\n<div class=\"md:mx-0 relative md:w-1\/2\">\n                                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/cc.mashable.com\/v1\/otc\/03bCs1jQxEftXGkZ7A6Km1e?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0GR6KJ72L%2F&amp;template=article&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=offer-image&amp;position=1&amp;element_label=image&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Farticle-route-prefix%2Ftech%2Ftax-free-weekend-deals&amp;product_uuid=02hRg4jiYARBfNh6WB4RgCT&amp;offer_uuid=00cVZMmlWsnv7w2KuzN9FPi&amp;object_type=article&amp;object_uuid=02FIH7nZHNokAa1WyAzy2cj\" data-commerce=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-parent-group=\"affiliate-link\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-element=\"offer\" data-ga-action=\"offer-image\" data-ga-item=\"offer-image\" data-ga-label=\"image\" data-ga-position=\"1\" data-ga-module=\"shop-card\" data-aps-asin=\"B0GR6KJ72L\" data-aps-asc-tag=\"mashable-editpost-20\" data-aps-asc-subtag=\"00cVZMmlWsnv7w2KuzN9FPi\" class=\"block overflow-hidden relative w-full border border-gray-100 aspect-square border-1\"><br \/>\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-contain absolute inset-0 p-12 w-full h-full\" src=\"https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/product\/02hRg4jiYARBfNh6WB4RgCT\/hero-image.fill.size_256x256.v1772658683.jpg\" alt=\"Apple 2026 MacBook Neo 13-inch Laptop with A18 Pro chip: Built for AI and Apple Intelligence, Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera; Blush\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/a>                                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/review\/apple-macbook-neo-budget-laptop\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\"><em>Read Mashable&#8217;s full review of the Apple MacBook Neo.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>2. High-end tech and gaming rigs with no price caps (South Carolina and Massachusetts)<\/h3>\n<p>South Carolina has zero price limit on computers and computer accessories, and Massachusetts covers almost any personal purchase up to $2,500.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to look for: <\/strong>This is the time to buy expensive <a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/category\/macbook\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\">MacBooks<\/a>, gaming desktops, or OLED monitors. Waiving a 6% tax on a $2,000 Apple or gaming setup keeps $120 in your pocket.<\/p>\n<section x-data=\"window.newsletter({ isDeal: true })\" x-init=\"init()\" aria-label=\"Newsletter Sign-Up\" class=\"relative invisible my-12 mx-auto w-full max-w-3xl md:my-16 ziff-component accent-cut-for-gradient-bg accent-cut-border-for-gradient-bg bg-gradient-fuchsia-secondary p-[2px]\">\n<p>\n            <span class=\"text-gradient-fuchsia-secondary\">Mashable Deals<\/span>\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"p-8 bg-white md:p-10\">\n<div x-ref=\"smsNewsletter\" x-cloak=\"\" x-show=\"showPhone\" class=\"flex flex-col mx-auto font-sans\" data-ga-impression=\"\" data-ga-category=\"sms\" data-ga-module=\"incontent_nl_signup\" data-ga-label=\"deals\">\n<div class=\"mt-4 font-sans text-xs leading-normal text-left subtitle-1\">\n                        By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages\/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziffdavis.com\/ztg-privacy-policy\" class=\"underline text-secondary-300 hover:text-primary-400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziffdavis.com\/terms-of-use\" class=\"underline text-secondary-300 hover:text-primary-400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\">Terms of Use<\/a>.\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"flex relative flex-col p-6 max-w-3xl mx-auto mt-8 mb-16 font-sans border border-gray-100 pogoClear md:flex-row\" data-commerce-block=\"\">\n<div class=\"md:mx-0 relative md:w-1\/2\">\n                                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/cc.mashable.com\/v1\/otc\/03bCs1jQxEftXGkZ7A6Km1e?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-2026-MacBook-15-inch-Laptop%2Fdp%2FB0GR1DVSQP&amp;template=article&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=offer-image&amp;position=2&amp;element_label=image&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Farticle-route-prefix%2Ftech%2Ftax-free-weekend-deals&amp;product_uuid=01MUzHHhkMagYUMKRxemc8v&amp;offer_uuid=027rSB79g4ZtAuvSWmzQO1K&amp;object_type=article&amp;object_uuid=02FIH7nZHNokAa1WyAzy2cj\" data-commerce=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-parent-group=\"affiliate-link\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-element=\"offer\" data-ga-action=\"offer-image\" data-ga-item=\"offer-image\" data-ga-label=\"image\" data-ga-position=\"2\" data-ga-module=\"shop-card\" data-aps-asin=\"B0GR1DVSQP\" data-aps-asc-tag=\"mashable-editpost-20\" data-aps-asc-subtag=\"027rSB79g4ZtAuvSWmzQO1K\" class=\"block overflow-hidden relative w-full border border-gray-100 aspect-square border-1\"><br \/>\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-contain absolute inset-0 p-12 w-full h-full\" src=\"https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/product\/01MUzHHhkMagYUMKRxemc8v\/hero-image.fill.size_256x256.v1772726213.jpg\" alt=\"Apple 2026 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M5 chip: Built for AI, 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD, 12MP Center Stage Camera, Touch ID, Wi-Fi 7; Sky Blue\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/a>                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"pl-0 mt-3 w-full md:pl-7 md:mt-0 md:w-1\/2\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"flex justify-between items-center py-0 mb-3 md:space-x-2\">\n<p>\n                                                    <span class=\"text-sm font-bold\">$1,399<\/span><br \/>\n                                                            <span class=\"text-xs\"> at Amazon<\/span><br \/>\n                                                        <br \/><span class=\"text-xs font-bold line-through\">$1,499<\/span><br \/>\n                                                                                        <span class=\"text-xs font-bold text-red-400\"> Save $100<\/span>\n                                                                        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/review\/m5-macbook-air\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\"><em>Read Mashable&#8217;s full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M5).<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>3. Portable generators and power stations (Virginia)<\/h3>\n<p>Virginia explicitly includes emergency supplies in its weekend holiday, so you can save on portable generators priced up to $1,000. (Something you&#8217;ll definitely need on the East Coast; did you see how flooded Norfolk got earlier this week?) <\/p>\n<p><strong>What to look for: <\/strong>Portable battery power stations or compact gas generators priced right under that $1,000 threshold. On an $800 to $900 unit, you&#8217;ll save around $45 to $50 on state tax alone, which is ideal if you&#8217;re trying to prep for storm season without paying extra fees.<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex relative flex-col p-6 max-w-3xl mx-auto mt-8 mb-16 font-sans border border-gray-100 pogoClear md:flex-row\" data-commerce-block=\"\">\n<div class=\"md:mx-0 relative md:w-1\/2\">\n                                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/cc.mashable.com\/v1\/otc\/03bCs1jQxEftXGkZ7A6Km1e?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0FBRD1B8C%3Fmaas%3Dmaas_adg_3B4A3BC207B9F3AE8F01DA113344A4E5_afap_abs%26ref_%3Daa_maas%26tag%3Dmaas%26th%3D1&amp;template=article&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=offer-image&amp;position=3&amp;element_label=image&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Farticle-route-prefix%2Ftech%2Ftax-free-weekend-deals&amp;product_uuid=02cgbFUCz98LvVRAG1Dj6Qu&amp;offer_uuid=05E9TTSgyYmdSv3KxcSmLyG&amp;object_type=article&amp;object_uuid=02FIH7nZHNokAa1WyAzy2cj\" data-commerce=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-parent-group=\"affiliate-link\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-element=\"offer\" data-ga-action=\"offer-image\" data-ga-item=\"offer-image\" data-ga-label=\"image\" data-ga-position=\"3\" data-ga-module=\"shop-card\" data-aps-asin=\"B0FBRD1B8C\" data-aps-asc-tag=\"mashable-editpost-20\" data-aps-asc-subtag=\"05E9TTSgyYmdSv3KxcSmLyG\" class=\"block overflow-hidden relative w-full border border-gray-100 aspect-square border-1\"><br \/>\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-contain absolute inset-0 p-12 w-full h-full\" src=\"https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/product\/02cgbFUCz98LvVRAG1Dj6Qu\/hero-image.fill.size_256x210.v1753714378.jpg\" alt=\"DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station, 2048Wh LFP Battery, Compact Size, 3000W Stable Output, 0-80% Recharge in 55 Mins, Electric Generator for Home, Camping &amp; RVs, Off-Grid\" width=\"256\" height=\"210\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/a>                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"pl-0 mt-3 w-full md:pl-7 md:mt-0 md:w-1\/2\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"flex justify-between items-center py-0 mb-3 md:space-x-2\">\n<p>\n                                                    <span class=\"text-sm font-bold\">$719.98<\/span><br \/>\n                                                            <span class=\"text-xs\"> at Amazon<\/span><br \/>\n                                                        <br \/><span class=\"text-xs font-bold line-through\">$1,299<\/span><br \/>\n                                                                                        <span class=\"text-xs font-bold text-red-400\"> Save $579.02<\/span>\n                                                                        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/review\/dji-power-2000-power-station\" target=\"_blank\" data-ga-click=\"1\" data-ga-label=\"$text\" data-ga-item=\"text-link\" data-ga-module=\"content_body\"><em>Read Mashable&#8217;s full review of the DJI Power 2000 portable power station.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TL;DR: Now through Aug. 9, several states are waiving or cutting sales tax on select purchases. To get the biggest savings, skip the cheap school supplies and use the tax break on high-dollar items like laptops, power stations, and home tech. I hate paying taxes as much as anyone, so whenever there&#8217;s a (legal) way&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31963,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/helios-i.mashable.com\/imagery\/articles\/02FIH7nZHNokAa1WyAzy2cj\/hero-image.fill.size_1200x675.v1786115951.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31962\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/31963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}