2016 U.S. Sales Tax Holidays

A sales tax holiday is a temporary period where sales tax is not collected or paid on purchases on specific products or services. Here is a recap of U.S. sales tax holidays throughout the 2016 calendar year. Find out if your state will hold a sales tax holiday, when it will be held, and what items may be tax-exempt.

The below list of 2016 U.S. sales tax holidays will be updated as new information becomes available.

Alabama

February 26-28 on portable generators and power cords used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of power outage selling for $1,000 or less per item; certain other sever weather preparedness equipment costing $60 or less per item.

August 5-7 on clothing and footwear costing $100 or less per item; computers, software, and school computer supplies costing $750 or less per item; noncommercial school supplies costing $50 or less per item; noncommercial books costing $30 or less per item.

Arkansas

August 6-7 on clothing items that cost less than $100 per item; clothing accessories or equipment that cost less than $50 per item; school art supplies; school instructional material; school supplies.

Connecticut

August 21-27 on clothing and footwear costing less than $100 per item.

Florida

August 5-7 on clothing costing $60 or less per item and school supplies costing $15 or less per item. (Awaiting updated 2016 URL)

Georgia

July 30-31 on clothing and footwear costing $100 or less per item, single purchase of personal computers and computer-related accessories costing $1,000 or less, and school supplies costing $20 or less per item.

September 30-October 2 on Energy Star products and WaterSense products for home use costing $1,500 or less per item.

Iowa

August 5-6 on clothing and footwear costing less than $100 per item.

Louisiana

August 5-6 on the first $2,500 of any item of tangible personal property. (Awaiting updated 2016 URL)

September 2-4 on consumer purchase of firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies. (Awaiting updated 2016 URL)

Maryland

February 13-15 on Energy Star air conditioners, clothes washer or dryer, furnace, heat pump, standard size refrigerator, compact fluorescent light bulb, Light-Emitting Diode (LED) light bulb, dehumidifier, boiler, or programmable thermostat, as well as solar water heaters.

August 14-20 on clothing and footwear costing $100 or less per item.

Mississippi

July 29-30 on clothing and footwear costing less than $100 per item.

August 26-28 on retail sales of firearm, ammunition and hunting supplies. Hunting supplies property used for hunting, including, and limited to, archery equipment, firearm and archery cases, firearm and archery accessories, hearing protection, holsters, belts and slings.

Missouri

April 19-25 the following energy star certified appliances qualify for the holiday when sold for a price up to $1,500: clothes washers, clothes dryers, water heaters, trash compactors, dishwashers , conventional ovens, ranges, stoves, air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators, and freezers.

August 5-7 on clothing and footwear costing $100 or less per item; sales of school supplies not to exceed $50 per purchase; computer software costing $350 or less per item; personal computers or peripheral devices costing $1,500 or less per item; graphing calculators costing $150 or less. (Awaiting updated 2016 URL)

New Mexico

August 5-7 on clothing and footwear costing less than $100 per item; personal computers costing $1,000 or less per item; computer accessories costing $500 or less per item; school supply implements and materials valued at under $30 per unit, book bags, backpacks, maps and globes valued at under $100 per unit, and handheld calculators valued under $200.

Ohio

August 5-7 on clothing and footwear costing less than $75 per item, school supplies costing $20 or less, and school instructional materials costing $20 or less per item.

Oklahoma

August 5-7 on clothing and footwear costing less than $100 per item. (Awaiting updated 2016 URL)

Puerto Rico

July 15-16 on school uniform wardrobe; school supplies; computer storage media; music supplies; art supplies; school instructional materials.

South Carolina

August 5-7 on clothing and footwear, clothing accessories, school supplies, computers, peripherals, software, blankets and bath items.

Tennessee

July 29-31 on clothing and footwear costing $100 or less per item, school and school art supplies costing $100 or less per item, and computers costing $1,500 or less per item.

Texas

April 23-25 on emergency preparation items as follows: a portable generator the sales price of which is less than $3,000; the sales price of which is less than $300 for a storm protection device, or an emergency or rescue ladder; the sales price of which is less than $75 for a reusable or artificial ice product; a portable, self-powered light source; a gasoline or diesel fuel container; a AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt, or 9 volt battery, or a package containing more than one battery, other than an automobile or boat battery; a nonelectric cooler or ice chest for food storage; a tarpaulin or other flexible waterproof sheeting; a ground anchor system or tie-down kit; a mobile telephone battery or battery charger; a portable self-powered radio, including a two-way radio or weatherband radio; a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, or carbon monoxide detector; a hatchet or axe; a self-contained first aid kit; or a nonelectric can opener.

May 28-30 on the following energy efficient products : (1) air conditioners priced at $6,000 or less, (2) refrigerators priced at $2,000 or less, (3) ceiling fans, (4) incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs, (5) clothes washers, (6) dishwashers, (7)  dehumidifiers, (8) programmable thermostats, (9) a water-conserving product or a Water Sense product.

August 5-7 on clothing, footwear and backpacks and school supplies costing less than $100 per item.

Virginia

August 5-7 on portable generators costing $1,000 or less; certain other hurricane preparedness equipment costing $60 or less per item, gas-powered chain saws with a selling price of $350 or less and chain saw accessories with a selling price of $60 or less, clothing and footwear costing $100 or less per item, school supplies costing $20 or less per item, and Energy Star or Water Sense qualified products for home use costing $2,500 or less.

For consumers, a sales tax holiday means a tax-free shopping spree but for retailers and small businesses, sales tax holidays can place a potential burden if not remitted correctly to their state’s Department of Revenue. Let Vertex Cloud do the heavy lifting for you.

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