South Carolina’s tax free weekend in 2026 runs from 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 7, through midnight Sunday, August 9. For those 72 hours, you pay no state or local sales tax on clothing, shoes, school supplies, computers, and certain bed and bath items, with no price cap on any category.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2120(57) A purchase rung up at 11:58 p.m. Sunday still counts. One at 12:02 a.m. Monday does not.
Both the 6% state rate and any local sales tax are suspended during the window.2South Carolina Department of Revenue. South Carolina’s 2025 Tax Free Weekend Starts Friday, August 1 Local rates add between 1% and 3% in most areas, so your total savings can reach up to 9% depending on where you shop.
What You Can Buy Tax-Free
The statute lists six categories, and unlike holidays in some other states, South Carolina sets no dollar cap. A $2,000 laptop gets the same break as a $10 notebook.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2120(57)
Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories
All clothing qualifies, from everyday shirts and jeans to formal wear. Shoes of any type are included, along with accessories like hats, scarves, belts, hosiery, neckties, purses, and handbags.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2120(57) Coats, gloves, and raincoats count too. There is no age restriction, as long as the items aren’t for use in a trade or business.
School Supplies
Pens, pencils, paper, binders, notebooks, books, bookbags, lunchboxes, and calculators are all written into the statute.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2120(57) The Department of Revenue has also identified art supplies, flash drives, highlighters, markers, scissors, staplers, glue, daily planners, and headphones as qualifying items.3South Carolina Department of Revenue. SC Information Letter 24-7 – Sales Tax Holiday Dates and List of Exempt and Non-Exempt Items
Computers and Printers
Desktops, laptops, tablets, printers, printer supplies, and computer software all qualify at any price.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2120(57) This is often the most valuable category of the weekend. Both purchased and leased equipment are covered, as long as it isn’t bought for business use.3South Carolina Department of Revenue. SC Information Letter 24-7 – Sales Tax Holiday Dates and List of Exempt and Non-Exempt Items
Bed and Bath Items
The exempt household list is specific: washcloths, blankets, bedspreads, bed linens, sheet sets, comforter sets, bath towels, shower curtains, bath rugs and mats, pillows, and pillowcases.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2120(57) Items that don’t fall into those categories, like curtain rods or decorative throw pillows, aren’t covered.
What Doesn’t Qualify
Several things shoppers assume are covered are not. You will pay full sales tax on:1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2120(57)
- Jewelry and watches, including smartwatches and watch bands
- Wallets and change purses (even though handbags are exempt)
- Cosmetics and skincare products
- Eyewear, prescription or not, including sunglasses and contact lenses
- Furniture, including desks and bookcases bought for a dorm room
- Anything bought for use in a trade or business
- Rentals of clothing or footwear
The wallet exclusion catches people off guard because handbags are specifically listed as exempt. If you’re buying both, only the handbag saves you tax.4South Carolina Department of Revenue. SC Revenue Ruling 19-4 – Sales Tax Holiday Frequently Asked Questions and List of Eligible Items
Online Orders, Rain Checks, and Layaway
Online orders qualify as long as the item is ordered, paid for, and accepted by the retailer during the three-day window for immediate shipment. The package can arrive after the weekend.5South Carolina Department of Revenue. Tax Free Weekend
Rain checks work in one direction. If a store issued one before the holiday and you use it during the weekend to buy an eligible item, that purchase is tax-free. If you receive the rain check during the weekend but don’t buy until Monday or later, you owe tax.6South Carolina Department of Revenue. Tax Free Weekend Retailer Toolkit
Layaway is the biggest trap. The statute specifically excludes any sale involving layaway or a similar deferred payment and delivery plan.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2120(57) If you want the tax savings, pay in full during the weekend.
Returns and Exchanges After the Weekend
Exchanging a tax-free purchase for the same item in a different size or color after the weekend doesn’t trigger new tax. But if you return an item and apply the credit to a different purchase, that new purchase is taxed normally.6South Carolina Department of Revenue. Tax Free Weekend Retailer Toolkit
How Much You Actually Save
Most shoppers face a combined state and local rate between 7% and 9%. On a $1,500 laptop in an area with an 8% rate, that’s $120 kept in your pocket. A $300 back-to-school run saves $21 to $27 depending on local rates. Because no category has a price cap, the holiday rewards bigger purchases more than events in states that limit exemptions to items under $100 or $200. Computers and dorm bedding are two of the easiest places to concentrate the savings.
If You Get Charged Tax by Mistake
Cashier errors happen, especially at stores where tax codes are overridden manually for the weekend. Ask the retailer for a correction or refund first. Most will fix it at the register. If the store won’t adjust it, contact the South Carolina Department of Revenue, which publishes the official list of exempt and non-exempt items each year before the holiday.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 36 – Section 12-36-2120(57) Keep your receipt.