Back-to-school season has a way of sneaking up on Mississippi families.
One minute it’s pool days, popsicles, and late sunsets. The next, parents are digging through supply lists, trying on last year’s shoes, and realizing someone suddenly needs an entirely new wardrobe after a summer growth spurt.
The good news? Mississippi’s annual Sales Tax Holiday returns this weekend, offering families a chance to save a little money before the first school bells ring.
The 2026 Mississippi Sales Tax Holiday runs from Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12, and during those three days, shoppers can purchase qualifying clothing, footwear, and school supplies without paying the state’s 7% sales tax.
While the savings on a single item may seem small, they can add up quickly for families shopping for multiple children or tackling long back-to-school lists.
Here’s what you need to know before you head to the store.
The $100 rule
The most important thing to remember is that the sales tax exemption applies to each individual item, not your total purchase.
If an eligible item costs less than $100, it qualifies for the tax break.
For example, if you buy:
- Two shirts for $50 each
- A pair of pants for $75
- A pair of shoes for $110
The shirts and pants qualify for the exemption because each item costs less than $100. The shoes, however, would be subject to sales tax because the price of that single item exceeds the limit.
In other words, your cart can total far more than $100 and still qualify, as long as each eligible item falls below the threshold.
What counts as clothing?
Most everyday apparel qualifies, including:
- Shirts and blouses
- Pants and shorts
- Dresses and skirts
- Coats and jackets
- Hats and belts
- Undergarments
- Uniforms and clothing sold as a set
What about shoes?
Most footwear qualifies as well, including athletic shoes, sandals, boots, and dress shoes.
Specialty recreational items such as skis, swim fins, roller skates, roller blades, and similar equipment are not included in the exemption.
Which school supplies qualify?
The tax holiday also covers school supplies that are commonly used by students in a course of study, making this an ideal weekend to stock up on classroom essentials before August arrives.
A few additional things to keep in mind
Items priced at exactly $100 or more do not qualify and will be taxed at the regular retail sales tax rate.
Rental items are not included in the holiday, even if they would otherwise qualify.
Items that are normally sold together as a set — such as a pair of shoes or a uniform package — must remain sold as a unit and cannot be separated into individual pieces in order to qualify.
The same goes for buy-one-get-one promotions. Retailers cannot average the prices of multiple items to bring them under the $100 limit. Each item’s actual selling price determines whether it qualifies for the exemption.
A little relief during back-to-school season
Let’s be honest: back-to-school shopping isn’t getting any cheaper.
Between backpacks, notebooks, tennis shoes, jeans, and the seemingly endless list of classroom supplies, the costs add up quickly for Mississippi families.
The Sales Tax Holiday won’t eliminate the expense, but it can help stretch those dollars a little further.
So whether you’re shopping for kindergarten crayons, middle school notebooks, or yet another pair of sneakers for a teenager who somehow outgrew the last pair in six months, this weekend may be the perfect time to check a few items off the list.
The Mississippi Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday, July 10, and runs through
