Which 17 states offer back-to-school shopping tax-free holidays?

School kids will likely groan about back-to-school shopping, but several states are once again offering sales-tax holidays to help families save on school supplies.
Connecticut is the last of 17 states to have its sales-tax holiday, which starts on Aug. 18 and runs through Aug. 24. Maryland’s tax-free holiday, which started on Aug. 11 continues through Aug. 17.
Most of the 17 states hosting the sales tax holidays this summer offer a break on sales tax for items related to school, like clothing, shoes, electronics and school supplies, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. Two states – Ohio and Massachusetts – have expanded tax-free holidays that go beyond school-related purchases.
Each state sets its own dates which are generally in July or August. Many states have already had their tax holidays.
New Jersey no longer has a tax-free holiday for school supplies. Legislation earlier this year repealed it.
As of early July, more than half, or 55%, of back-to-school and college shoppers had already begun to buy items for the school year, according to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics’ annual survey.
“Families and students are eager to get a jumpstart on their shopping for the start of the school year,” Katherine Cullen, National Retail Federation (NRF) Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights, said in a press release. “Retailers have anticipated this early demand and are well-positioned to offer a variety of products at competitive prices.”
Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on clothing, shoes, electronics and school supplies, according to the NRF. That’s $15 less than last year’s record of $890.07, but is the second-highest amount in the survey’s history.
Total back-to-school spending is expected to reach $38.8 billion, also the second-highest on record after last year’s high of $41.5 billion, the NRF said.
The most popular destinations for back-to-school shopping are online (57%), department stores (50%), discount stores (47%), clothing stores (42%) and electronic stores (23%).
College students and their families are expected to spend more. On average, they will spend $1,364.75, about the same as last year’s $1,366.95. Total college back-to-school spending is expected to reach $86.6 billion, the second-highest after last year’s $94 billion.
Consumers are feeling negative about the U.S. economy and are inflation weary, according to a new back-to-school study by Ankura Consulting, that showed 51% of respondents had those feelings.
Nearly 75% of shoppers said credit card and personal debt will influence their back-to-school shopping budget.
Finances:Are schools asking too much for back-to-school shopping? Many parents say yes.
And consumers are weighing other parts of their budget: nearly 50% of back-to-school shoppers have experienced a significant increase in the cost of their car insurance, while 36% are seeing an increase in their home insurance and 32% have seen a rise in their health insurance. Those cost-of-living expenses eat into their disposable spending, Ankura said.
Here is a list of participating states and what’s tax free, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. Rules and dates vary by state so check the state’s website for the most updated information. In some instances, local taxes may also still apply. 
If a dollar amount is not listed, the state did not appear to indicate a spending limit on that item. A link to most states’ details of their holiday are hyperlinked to the name of each state. Generally most purchases online also qualify for the sales-tax holiday, but check your state’s requirements.
Alabama
July 19-21
What’s tax-free:
Arkansas
Aug. 3-4
What’s tax-free:
Connecticut
Aug. 18-24
What’s tax-free:
Florida
July 29-Aug. 11
What’s tax-free:
Iowa
Aug. 2-3
What’s tax-free:
Maryland
Aug. 11-17
What’s tax-free:
Massachusetts
Aug 10-11
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Mississippi
July 12-14 (A Senate bill changed the holiday from the last Friday and Saturday in July to the second Friday and Saturday and extended it through Sunday).
What’s tax-free:
Missouri
Aug. 2-4
What’s tax-free:
New Mexico
Aug. 2-4
What’s tax-free:
Ohio
July 30-Aug. 8
What’s tax-free:
Oklahoma
Aug. 2-4
What’s tax-free:
South Carolina
Aug. 2-4
What’s tax-free:
Tennessee
July 26-28
What’s tax-free:
Texas
Aug. 9-11
What’s tax-free:
Virginia
Aug. 2-4
What’s tax-free:
West Virginia
Aug. 2-5
What’s tax-free:
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays,here.