SAN ANTONIO – Families across Texas are seizing the opportunity of the state’s annual tax-free weekend to stock up on essential back-to-school items. This three-day sales tax holiday allows parents and guardians to purchase everything from shoes and clothing to backpacks and notebooks without incurring the usual sales tax, helping them save considerably at checkout.
On the second day of this much-anticipated event, shoppers at a local Academy Sports + Outdoors were keen to beat the crowds and the summer heat. Sofia Chaparro, shopping alongside her mother Selina Zertuche, expressed satisfaction with their finds, which included “two hoodies and some sweats.” The two originally intended to make a quick trip solely for shoes.
“Initially, we just wanted to come in for the tennies, and that was it,” Zertuche shared with a laugh. Despite their initial reluctance to shop, they were pleasantly surprised by the store’s manageable crowd size.
“I think it’s because it’s early,” she noted. “After this, we are heading home.”
For many other shoppers, this tax-free weekend presents a vital opportunity to acquire necessary items while sidestepping sales taxes. Mary Fernandez, for instance, was on the lookout for work clothes for her husband, who needs durable outer gear for the ongoing summer heat. “He works in air conditioning, so he needs it,” she explained, adding that they saved approximately $20 during their shopping trip, a helpful amount that “covers lunch.”
According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, the annual sales tax holiday applies to most clothing items, shoes, school supplies, and backpacks, as long as each qualifying item costs less than $100. The savings extend to eligible items purchased both in physical stores and online.
For families with multiple children, even minor savings can accumulate to significant amounts. “I just know how hard it is for families, especially those with more than one child, when they’re back-to-school shopping,” remarked former educator Vickie Warlow. She noted that each student’s school supplies can easily total around $100, a consideration that teachers kept in mind when creating supply lists.
During this three-day tax-free holiday, families in Texas are projected to save approximately $142.5 million in state and local sales taxes. With the tax-free weekend continuing through midnight Sunday, many families are taking advantage of this opportunity to lighten their financial load as the new school year approaches.
