These 16 states are offering tax holidays as back-to-school costs soar to over $800 per student

HomePersonal FinanceSpending & SavingSee if your state is on the listJuly 23, 2026, 2:51 p.m. ETBack-to-school shoppers can take advantage of tax-free weekends in certain states to save on school supplies, clothing, shoes and electronics. Photo: Getty ImagesAs inflation continues to squeeze household budgets, parents and students are on a mission to find back-to-school bargains.College students are expected to spend, on average, $1,438 ahead of the upcoming academic year, the highest amount since at least 2019, while families of K-12 students will spend around $864, according to a consumer survey from the National Retail Federation.