Mark your calendars: A “tax-free weekend” is coming soon to many states. But not all states, and not all types of purchases, are included in this temporary reprieve from state sales taxes.

Nationwide, 17 states are taking part in some sort of state sales tax holiday this year, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) which works with tax-collection agencies in all 50 states.

In fact, eight of those states have set aside more than one weekend as “tax-free weekends” this year, with each covering different types of seasonal purchases.

With many states’ “tax-free weekends” falling in August, back-to-school shopping is the main focus. But note that each state sets its own rules as to which exact items can be purchased tax-free. Most also set a maximum amount for “tax-free” purchases.

Here are the states with “tax-free weekends” coming up in July and August, according to the FTA:

July 26-27, 2013:

  • Mississippi

August 2-3, 2013:

  • Iowa
  • Louisiana

August 2-4, 2013:

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Missouri
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia

August 3-4, 2013:

  • Arkansas

August 9-10, 2013:

  • Georgia

August 9-11, 2013:

  • Texas

August 11-17, 2013:

  • Maryland

August 18-24, 2013:

  • Connecticut

Because each state’s “tax-free weekend” is different, you’ll want to check with each state’s tax division (see links above) to see exactly how the “holiday” works before you make a special trip across state lines to do your back-to-school shopping.

Of course, four U.S. states don’t need “tax-free weekends” because they don’t have state sales taxes at all. Those states are Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon, according to The Christian Science Monitor.

Related Resources:

  • FindLaw’s Tips For Keeping Kids Safe At School (The Official FindLaw Blog)
  • What the Internet Sales Tax Means for Small Biz (FindLaw’s Free Enterprise)
  • Rushing to Shop Online? Beware Legal Pitfalls (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
  • Do You Have to Pay Sales Tax on Internet Purchases? (FindLaw)

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