Families in Houston are gearing up to shop for back-to-school items during Texas’s tax-free weekend. One mother’s experience highlights how quickly savings can add up.
This weekend, Texas families will benefit from the state’s annual sales tax holiday, which makes shopping for multiple children a bit easier on the wallet.
We spoke with Houston resident Ebony London about potential savings for her family.
“They’re all a handful,” London joked while her kids played with magnet blocks and Play-Doh. “But she really loves those Play-Doh and magnet blocks.”
For Ebony, getting school supplies means more than just basic items. She looks for backpacks and some fun extras that her kids will actually want to use.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations about going back to school,” London said. “They’re actually excited about the backpacks.”
This year, she plans to spend about $50 to $60 per child solely on school supplies, leaving clothing and shoes out of the equation.
How much can you really save on a tax-free weekend?
After applying a coupon and checking online prices at HEB, she noted that her subtotal reached $125.90. When tax was added, the total climbed to $136.28, which exceeds her budget significantly.
Fortunately for London, shopping during the sales tax holiday can help her out. By eliminating the 6.25% sales tax, her final total would be $127.90, leading to a savings of $8.38 on just one child’s items.
“It could mean another backpack, or some socks, underwear, a shirt—everything else we need,” she explained.
She anticipates saving around $20, especially considering there’s still shopping to do for her other child.
“I think it’s helpful to break it down,” London mentioned. “I’ll probably do some shopping this weekend.”
Texas Sales Tax Holiday 2025: What’s Included
The holiday runs from Friday, August 8th to Sunday, August 10th.
Items that qualify include clothing and footwear priced under $100 (like jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers), backpacks (including some styles, with a limit of 10 per customer), and basic school supplies like:
- binder
- calculator
- scissors
- notebook
- pencil
- ruler
It also includes some sports equipment, though certain items like sneakers are exempt.
- clock
- wallet
- umbrella
- luggage
- laptop/computer bag
- textbook
- software
- computer
Useful Tips
- Online orders are eligible as long as payment is processed during the tax-free period.
- Shipping charges count toward the $100 limit; for example, if your total is $95 with a $10 shipping fee, it will be taxed.
- If you mistakenly pay tax on an eligible item, you can seek a refund from the retailer. Visit the Texas Secretary’s office to file a claim.
