MAKING ENDS MEET: Tips for saving money while shopping for school during TN’s tax-free weekend

This weekend marks a big shopping holiday in Tennessee. Friday through Sunday, shoppers can take advantage of zero sales tax on certain items, which in turn can save shoppers hundreds of dollars.

The tax-free weekend comes as parents are getting their children ready for back to school. According to the Better Business Bureau, it’s a great time to knock out school supply shopping without having to break the bank. Typically, the City of Chattanooga carries a 9.25% sales tax, but for three days in July, it’s waived.

Tennessee's 2025 sales tax holiday weekend begins July 25

This year’s tax free holiday will run from 12:01am on Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27 at 11:59pm.

“We have tax-free shopping weekend coming up as we are seeing kids get ready to go back to school. That is for Tennessee residents. Unfortunately, Georgia is no longer offering this. However, if you are shopping in Tennessee or you are doing online shopping, you can take advantage of this,” said Michele Mason, President of Better Business Bureau.

BBB recommends parents plan ahead. Make a list of school supplies ahead of time and compare prices at stores beforehand. Not everything will fall under the tax-free rules. For things like clothes and shoes, most items will be covered, as long as they are under $100 per item. That guideline is true for binders, backpacks, and other school supplies.

“That is also going to be a limit of anything under $100 or less. They will not allow you to break up sets to accomplish that. However, it is applied to things ranging from binders to paper, pencils, pens. Also backpacks, crayons. All the things students are going to use for school, said Mason.

Almost time: school starting dates across the TN Valley

The 2025-26 school year is almost here.

A notable way to save big cash is to look into deals on electronics. Many laptops and tablets may fall under the tax-free guidelines, as long as they are not more than $1,500.

“It applies to computers, including laptops up to $1,500 or less. However, you cannot buy separate software, that won’t apply. It does allow people to go ahead and purchase those devices and get those taxes saved, which can be quite a bit of money,” added Mason.

Tax-free weekend starts at 12:01am on Friday, July 25 and will run through 11:59pm on Sunday, July 29. For additional information on what qualifies for tax-free weekend, check out the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

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