CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – As the 2025-26 school year approaches, families and educators across Tennessee are prepping for the return to school. Luckily, Tennessee has a three-day-long holiday that makes the prep a little easier on their wallets.

During Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday, clothing, school supplies, and computers are exempt from tax, according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue (TDR).

The three-day holiday, set to begin on Friday, July 25, is an excellent resource for parents, students, and educators to gear up for the approaching school year (with certain restrictions).

What is exempt from sales tax?

What, exactly, can people buy during the traditional sales tax holiday? According to the TDR, here are the items exempt from tax:

  • Clothing: General apparel that costs $100 or less per item, such as shirts, pants, socks, shoes, dresses, etc.
  • School Supplies: Items that cost $100 or less each, such as binders, backpacks, crayons and art supplies like paints, drawing pads, and artist paintbrushes.
  • Computers: Computers, laptop computers and tablet computers for personal use priced at $1,500 or less.

Items sold online are also eligible, according to the TDR.

What does not qualify?

While the exemption casts a wide net, there are restrictions on what items are eligible for tax-free purchase.

Generally speaking, any individual item that exceeds the previously mentioned limit is not eligible. For example, a pair of shoes that costs $110 would not be eligible since it exceeds $100 for that individual item, but a pair of shoes that costs $90 would be exempt from tax, since it is less than $100.

The same applies to school supplies and computers. Here is a breakdown of the other restrictions, according to the TDR:

  • Clothing
    • Items sold together, such as shoes, cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum.
    • Items such as jewelry, handbags, or sports and recreational equipment.
  • School Supplies
    • Items that are usually sold together cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum.
  • Computers
    • Storage media, like flash drives and compact discs
    • Individually purchased software
    • Printer supplies
    • Household appliances

Items must be purchased for personal use, not for business or trade, according to the TDR.

When is the Sales Tax Holiday?

Tennessee’s traditional sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 25, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 27.

For additional information, including an alphabetical directory of exempt items, taxable items not exempt, guidance and fliers, visit the TDR website.

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