Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday Returns for Missouri

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Missouri's annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday will officially return from Friday, August 7, through Sunday, August 9, 2026.

According to the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR), the three-day tax-free weekend will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and run until midnight on Sunday. During this window, all state and local sales taxes are waived on qualifying school supplies, clothing, and computers.

A state law implemented in 2023 mandates that all cities, counties, and special tax districts participate. This means shoppers will see a sales tax rate of exactly zero percent on eligible purchases across the entire state.

Qualifying Items and Price Limits

The tax exemption only applies to items falling under specific statutory price thresholds:

  • School Supplies: Must not exceed $50 per purchase. This includes textbooks, notebooks, paper, pens, crayons, backpacks, and handheld calculators.

  • Clothing and Footwear: Must be valued at $100 or less per item. This includes school uniforms and diapers, but explicitly excludes accessories like jewelry, watches, handbags, and ties.

  • Personal Computers and Peripherals: Laptops, desktops, monitors, and hard drives are tax-free up to $1,500 per item.

  • Software: Computer software with a taxable value of $350 or less per item qualifies.

  • Graphing Calculators: Eligible up to $150 per item.

The timing of the holiday offers financial relief to parents navigating tight household budgets. Regional business organizations, including the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), are leveraging the weekend to encourage residents to shop small.

"The sales tax holiday is a great opportunity for Missourians to make the most of their budgets while investing in the local businesses that serve our communities," said Brad Jones, NFIB Missouri State Director.

The holiday is open to anyone. Shoppers do not have to be Missouri residents or students to qualify for the savings, making it a popular attraction for border-state travelers. Additionally, the DOR confirmed that qualifying online purchases will also be tax-free, provided the items are ordered and paid for in full during the three-day window, regardless of when they are shipped.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.