Back-to-School Tax Relief
August 7-August 16, 2026
State Rep. Dave Vella helped pass tax relief to make back-to-school shopping more affordable for Illinois families.
Illinois families can save on back-to-school shopping during the State Sales Tax Holiday, running Friday, August 7, through Sunday, August 16, 2026. During this 10-day period, the state sales tax is reduced significantly on qualifying purchases, helping families save on clothing, footwear, and school supplies.
Eligible purchases include:
Backpacks and book bags
Binders and folders
Notebooks and composition books
Calculators
Crayons, colored pencils, markers
Chalk, tape, and other classroom supplies
What qualifies?
Clothing and footwear priced under $125 per item, including:
Shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, shorts
Shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, slippers
Socks, hosiery, underwear
School uniforms
*Unlike clothing and footwear, school supplies are not subject to the $125 price limit.
Important Details
Dates: August 7–16, 2026
Savings: State sales tax drops by 5 percent on qualifying items.
Local taxes may still apply, so your total sales tax rate will vary depending on where you shop.
What doesn't qualify?
Some common items not included in the tax holiday are:
- Clothing or footwear costing $125 or more per item
- Computers, tablets, printers, and computer accessories
- Textbooks and reference books
- Jewelry, handbags, briefcases, cosmetics, and other clothing accessories
- Sporting equipment and other non-qualifying items