Tennessee Starts Annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

The Government of Tennessee launched its annual sales tax holiday at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 31, 2026. The period runs through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, and removes state and local sales taxes on qualifying back-to-school purchases.

Exemptions apply to clothing and school supplies priced at $100 or less per item, as well as computers and tablets costing $1,500 or less. These tax breaks extend to qualifying online purchases made during the three-day window.

Groceries remain taxable, as Tennessee continues to be one of eight U.S. states that impose a tax on food. Legislative efforts to change this during the 2026 session were unsuccessful. This included House Bill 1486, sponsored by Representative Michael Hale, which sought to establish a sales tax holiday for residents 65 and older.