Indiana Parents May Want to Head South for School Shopping
Yes, it's summer, but back-to-school will be here before we know it, and shopping for the kids can get expensive in a hurry!
New clothes. New shoes. Notebooks. Backpacks. Maybe even a new laptop.
While several states offer tax-free shopping weekends to help families save a little money, Indiana isn't one of them.
The good news for many Hoosiers? One of those states is only a relatively short drive away.
Tennessee's Tax-Free Weekend Returns July 31
According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, the state's annual sales tax holiday returns:
Friday, July 31, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., through Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
During those three days, qualifying purchases can be made without paying Tennessee's state sales tax.
And yes, that includes eligible online purchases, provided they meet the program's requirements.
What Qualifies for Tax-Free Shopping?
The sales tax holiday includes many of the items families are already buying for the upcoming school year.
Eligible purchases include:
- Clothing priced at $100 or less per item
- School supplies priced at $100 or less per item
- Computers for personal use priced at $1,500 or less
That can add up to meaningful savings, especially for families shopping for multiple children or replacing a computer before classes begin.
Some Items Still Don't Qualify
Not everything is included in the tax holiday.
Some commonly excluded items include:
- Clothing or school supplies over the price limits
- Jewelry
- Handbags
- Sports equipment
- Printer supplies
- Software
- Flash drives
The Tennessee Department of Revenue says purchases must also be for personal use rather than business purposes.
Is It Worth the Drive?
Living in Southern Indiana comes with one advantage many Hoosiers farther north don't have.
Cities like Nashville are close enough that a weekend shipping trip is a realistic option for many Tri-State families.
Whether the drive makes financial sense really depends on what's on your shopping list.
For someone buying a few notebooks and pencils, probably not.
For families purchasing wardrobes for multiple kids, a new computer, and a cart full of school supplies, the tax savings can add up quickly enough to make the trip worth considering.
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