Missouri’s tax-free weekend: what you need to know

MISSOURI – With back-to-school season underway, Missouri retailers and parents are preparing for the sales tax holiday weekend ahead.

Beginning this Friday through Sunday, August 4, certain back-to-school purchases like clothing, school supplies, computers and many other items will be exempt from sales tax.

Here’s what qualifies:

• Clothing, including diapers and shoes, that have a taxable value of $100 or less.
• School supplies: not exceeding $50 per purchase.
• Computer software with a taxable value of $350 or less.
• Personal computers that cost $1,500 or more.
• Other computer devices, like a mouse, keyboard, and external disk drive, cost $1,500 or less.
• And graphing calculators at $150 or less.

Here’s what doesn’t qualify for supplies:

• Radios
• Headphones
• CD Players
• Sporting Equipment
• Portable or Desktop Telephones,
• Copiers or Other Office Supplies
• Furniture

Here’s what doesn’t qualify for clothing:

• Watches
• Watchbands
• Jewelry
• Handbags
• Handkerchiefs
• Umbrellas
• Scarves
• Ties
• Headbands
• Belt Buckles

Missouri is just one of 16 states in the country that offers sales tax-exempt shopping for back-to-school purchases. Illinois will not have a sales tax-exempt weekend.

Municipalities within Missouri can no longer opt out of the sales tax after Senate Bill 153 was passed in 2021. The Department of Revenue said tax-exempt items bought online also count toward the tax-free weekend.

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