Tennessee’s 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday starts July 31

Tennessee’s 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 31, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 2.

The three-day exemption can reduce the cost of certain back-to-school purchases, but it does not apply to every item or every purchase. Eligibility depends on the product category, price, intended use and, in some cases, how the order is placed.

What qualifies

• Clothing: Qualifying clothing priced at $100 or less per item can be purchased without sales tax.
• School and art supplies: Eligible school and art supplies priced at $100 or less per item qualify. Shoppers should check the Tennessee Department of Revenue‘s category-specific guidance because not every item marketed for school or creative use is included.
• Computers: Qualifying computers for personal use priced at $1,500 or less per item can qualify. The exemption does not automatically extend to every accessory, software product or printer-related item.

The price limits generally apply per item, not necessarily to the total value of the transaction. An item above the applicable threshold does not receive a partial exemption under the holiday rules. Items normally sold together also generally cannot be split into separate prices to stay below the limit.

Online and phone orders have timing rules

Internet, telephone, email and mail orders may qualify if the customer orders and pays for the item during the holiday period and the retailer accepts the order for immediate shipment. Buying an item before July 31 and having it delivered during the holiday does not, by itself, make the purchase eligible.

Shoppers should keep order confirmations and review the retailer’s tax treatment at checkout, particularly when an order includes multiple products or items bundled together.

Common exclusions

The holiday does not cover purchases made for business or trade because the exemption is limited to personal use. Common excluded items include jewelry, handbags, sports and recreational equipment, separately sold software, printer supplies and household appliances.

A computer purchase may qualify while separately sold software, printer supplies, storage media or other related products may not. Product descriptions and checkout categories can vary, so shoppers should verify questionable items against state guidance before paying.

Retailer participation

Tennessee Department of Revenue guidance says merchants that sell eligible clothing, school or art supplies, or computers should apply the exemption during the holiday. Businesses that sell only to other businesses or do not sell qualifying items are not required to participate.

Residents should confirm participation and ask whether a specific product meets the state’s definition before completing a purchase.

The practical takeaway is simple: plan purchases for the July 31 through August 2 window, check the per-item limits, separate personal purchases from business orders and review the state’s qualifying-item rules for computers, accessories and supplies.

Sources

• Tennessee Department of Revenue: 2026 sales tax holiday announcement
• Tennessee Department of Revenue: qualifying items
• WSMV4: Tennessee back-to-school tax-free weekend