Texas Tax-Free Weekend 2016: Top 5 Shopping Tips!


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Ready to do a little tax-free shopping this summer?  The Texas Tax Free weekend has been scheduled for August 5 - 7, 2016.

Those three days, Texas shoppers can skip paying taxes on clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced at $100 or less!

Here are a few of my favorite shopping tips to help you successfully navigate your tax-free shopping:


  • The tax free exemption counts toward any valid item under $100, even if you wind up spending more than $100 in a single transaction.  For example, if you buy three kids each a new pair of $50 sneakers, your $150 worth of purchases are all tax-free.
  • Items over $100 are still charged sales tax -- so you can't buy a $200 coat and only pay sales tax on $100 of it.
  • Lay-away plans can be used to help spread costs out across several paycheck cycles, so check and see if your store offers it!  You'll qualify for tax-free if you either a) put the item on layaway during the weekend, or b) make the final payment on a previously laid-away item during the weekend.
  • Messenger bags and backpacks with wheels qualify for tax free exemptions, as long as they can be worn on the body like a traditional backpack.  Wheeled luggage sadly doesn't qualify.
  • Baby clothes and diapers are tax free as well -- so this is a terrific weekend to coupon for baby gear!  
  • See more money-saving tips here!
You can read the entire Texas tax free holiday guidelines to get you up to speed as the weekend approaches.

And here are the top deals I see so far in stores:
  • Express -- Save 40% off jeans, plus take an additional 20% off your purchase if you follow Express on IG.
  • Famous Footwear -- BOGO 50% off PLUS a 15% off coupon AND a $5 Ibotta rebate!
  • Lane Bryant -- Save $10 off your purchase when you try on a pair of jeans (or $25 off your purchase if you buy a pair of jeans!)
  • Loft Outlet -- Take 15% off your purchase with printable coupon.
  • Office Depot or Office Max -- possibly FREE mechanical pencils plus 24-count packs of bottled water for $1.99 each!
  • Macy's -- Save an additional 25% off sale and clearance priced clothing through Texas Tax Free Weekend with their Fashion Pass!
  • Macy's -- We also have a NEW Wow Pass to print, good for $10 off $25 or $20 off $50 or more!
  • Office Depot & Office Max -- possibly FREE pens, 1 cent printer paper, and more!  (August 5 & 6 only.) 
  • Staples -- possibly FREE pens, plus multiple school supplies priced 50 cents or less (August 5 & 6 only.)
  • Staples -- more great deals starting Sunday, August 7!
  • Starbucks -- FREE coffee with school supply donations!
  • Target -- FREE mechanical pencils, 50 cent folders, and more! (August 5 & 6 only.)
  • Walgreens -- I counted eight separate school supply deals priced at 50 cents or less (August 5 & 6 only.)
  • Walgreens -- Paper Mate Mechanical pencils 13 cents per pack! (starts August 7.)
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