The Mississippi Department of Revenue is reminding residents that the state’s annual Sales Tax Holiday—often referred to as Tax Free Weekend—will take place Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12, 2026.
During the three-day period, shoppers will not pay state sales tax on qualifying clothing, footwear, and school supplies, as long as each individual item is priced under $100.
The holiday is designed to help families save money on back-to-school shopping, with the exemption applying automatically at the register on eligible items. According to the Mississippi Department of Revenue, the tax break covers a wide range of apparel and school-related essentials, but does not apply to other retail goods.
What qualifies
Eligible items include most everyday clothing and footwear, along with commonly used school supplies such as notebooks, paper, pencils, crayons, folders, backpacks, and similar classroom materials. Items priced at $100 or more will remain fully taxable at the regular 7% sales tax rate.
The department notes that the $100 limit applies per individual item—not the total purchase. That means multiple qualifying items can be purchased tax-free in the same transaction even if the overall total exceeds $100.
What shoppers should know
The Department of Revenue outlines several important guidelines:
- Clothing and school supplies under $100 are tax-exempt during the holiday
- Items $100 or more are fully taxable
- Shipping and handling charges are not included in the price threshold
- Online, phone, and mail orders qualify if ordered and paid for during the holiday
- Layaway purchases do not qualify
- Rain checks are only valid if redeemed during the tax holiday window
The agency also clarifies that exchanges of the same item (such as different sizes or colors) will not trigger new tax charges, while returns followed by purchases of different items may result in sales tax being applied.
Key exceptions
Certain items commonly associated with clothing or school use do not qualify, including sports protective gear, jewelry, handbags, umbrellas, and similar accessories. Rental items are also excluded from the tax break.
A full list of eligible and non-eligible items is provided by the state as part of the official guidance.
More information
Shoppers with questions can contact the Mississippi Department of Revenue at (601) 923-7015 for additional details.
The annual sales tax holiday has become a popular mid-summer shopping event across Mississippi, offering families a short window to stock up on school essentials ahead of the new academic year.
A complete list of eligible items can be found HERE.
