Maximize Your Back-to-School Savings: A Guide to Tennessee’s 2025 Tax-Free Weekend

What Items Are Tax-Exempt During Tennessee's Sales Tax Holiday?

Get ready, Tennessee shoppers! The highly anticipated Tennessee sales tax holiday is just around the corner, offering incredible back-to-school savings for families across the state. Mark your calendars for July 25–27, 2025, as this annual tax-free weekend eliminates state and local sales tax on eligible back-to-school items. Given Tennessee's sales tax rates, which can be as high as 9.75% in major cities like Memphis and Nashville (and around 9% in rural areas), this tax exemption event could save you anywhere from $90 to $150 on a typical $1,000 shopping trip.

Tax-free status applies only to specific items that meet set price caps:

Clothing & Footwear − Any individual clothing item or pair of shoes priced at $99.99 or less is exempt from sales tax.

School & Art Supplies − A wide range of school and art supplies are included, provided each item costs $99.99 or less. This comprehensive list covers essentials like pens, pencils, crayons, markers, erasers, notebooks, filler paper, binders, construction paper, scissors, staplers, glue, backpacks, lunch boxes, and basic art supplies such as paint, brushes, and sketch pads.

Computers & Tablets − Laptops, desktops, all-in-one computers, and tablets are tax-free if priced at $1,500 or less. Even bundled packages that include essential software, a mouse, or a case qualify, as long as their total value stays within the $1,500 cap.

It's important to note that computers purchased during the tax holiday do not need to be specifically for school purposes. Anyone – whether a student, parent, teacher, or small-business owner – can benefit. You can purchase one tax-free computer per transaction, and there's no limit on the number of transactions you can make throughout the tax-free weekend.

Items That Remain Taxable During the Sales Tax Holiday

While the Tennessee sales tax holiday offers great savings, some items remain taxable:

Separately Sold Peripherals: Monitors, keyboards, printers, and other computer peripherals are taxable if sold separately, meaning they are not part of the original UPC-coded computer package.

Sports & Recreational Protective Equipment: Items like football cleats, bowling shoes, golf gloves, and wetsuits are not eligible for the tax exemption.

Specialized Sports Apparel: This includes items such as team jerseys, dancewear, ski suits, and waders.

Formal Wear: Graduation gowns, prom dresses, tuxedos, and costume rentals remain taxable.

Non-Educational or Commercial Items: Furniture, janitorial supplies, briefcases, luggage, or items intended for commercial use rather than educational purposes are not covered by the tax holiday.

Maximizing Your Savings: How Tennessee's Tax-Free Weekend Works and Smart Shopping Tips

Understanding the rules of the Tennessee tax holiday is key to maximizing your savings:

Specific Dates & Times: The tax-free weekend begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 25, and concludes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 27.

In-Store & Online Purchases: The sales tax exemption applies to both in-store and online orders made during this three-day period, even if you pick up or receive delivery later.

Rain Checks & Back Orders: Only items fully paid for during the official tax holiday period qualify. Be aware that stores are required to collect tax on rain-check purchases redeemed after Sunday.

Layaway Plans: Items placed on layaway on or before Sunday are eligible, provided final payments are completed at a later date.

Coupon Stacking: Good news for savvy shoppers! Manufacturer and store coupons can be combined with the tax exemption. For example, an $80 dress reduced by a 25% coupon (to $60) still qualifies, remaining well under the $100 threshold.

Since Tennessee's tax holiday often aligns with back-to-school sales from major retailers, employing smart shopping strategies can maximize your savings. Here are some helpful tips:

1. Prepare Your Shopping List: Before Friday, create a detailed list and verify individual item prices to ensure they meet the exemption limits, rather than just looking at basket totals.

2. Prioritize Computer Purchases: Consider buying computers first, as their demand and inventory levels can fluctuate significantly during the tax-free weekend.

3. Shop Online Strategically: If a local store is out of stock, ensure you complete your online payment in full before 11:59 p.m. on Sunday to secure the tax exemption.

Tennessee's Leading Role in Sales Tax Holidays Nationally

Out of the 20 states that offer a dedicated back-to-school sales tax holiday, Tennessee stands out. Its comprehensive list of tax-exempt computers and school supplies places it among the most generous states, tied with Florida and Missouri. This generosity contrasts sharply with states like Oklahoma, which entirely excludes computers, or Arkansas, which caps electronics exemptions at a mere $50. Economists project that Tennessee residents will collectively save an impressive $10 million to $12 million during this three-day tax-free weekend, delivering one of the most significant percentage-of-income boosts to households with school-aged children across the Southeast.

Plan Ahead for Maximum Back-to-School Savings

Don't miss out on these fantastic back-to-school savings! For instance, if your family purchases a laptop utilizing the full $1,500 exemption, you could save approximately $135 in sales tax alone. Combine that with a few new outfits and essential school supplies like notebooks and art materials, and an $800 typical back-to-school expenditure could drop to just $730, saving you $140. To make the most of the Tennessee sales tax holiday, plan your shopping in advance, refer to the tax exemption list provided, and for the official and most up-to-date version of eligible items, visit the Tennessee Department of Revenue website at revenue.tn.gov.