Seventeen states are waiving sales tax on school shopping at some point in 2026, but not on the same weekend — each state picks its own dates and its own list of exactly what qualifies, so the same shopping trip can be tax-free in one state and fully taxed in the state next door. * Mississippi runs first, July 25 through 26, covering clothing and footwear under $100 per item. Tennessee follows shortly after, July 31 through August 2, with its own annual sales tax holiday. * The first weekend of August is the busiest cluster: Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia all run their back-to-school holiday August 7 through 9. Florida's window is unusually generous beyond that single weekend too — its broader school-supply tax holiday actually stretches from July 20 through August 20 this year. * A few states run later and longer than the rest: Maryland's holiday covers August 9 through 15, and Connecticut's runs a full week, August 16 through 22. * Qualifying items follow a similar pattern across most states — clothing, footwear, and basic school supplies like notebooks, pens, and backpacks are almost always included, and a growing number of states now include laptops and tablets under a specific price cap. Athletic gear, specialty sports equipment, and accessories like jewelry are typically excluded everywhere. Because price caps and exact item lists differ by state, check your specific state revenue department's list before assuming a purchase qualifies.