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Tax Free Weekend begins tomorrow!
Thursday, Aug 6, 2026
South Carolina’s 26th annual Tax Free Weekend begins Friday, August 7 and continues until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 9.
Thousands of shoppers from South Carolina and neighboring states are expected to take advantage of the chance to purchase eligible items without paying state or local Sales Tax. Purchases can be made in-person or online. Full details are available at dor.sc.gov/taxfreeweekend.
Last year, shoppers bought more than $25 million in eligible items and saved more than $1.5 million in Sales Tax during Tax Free Weekend.
This year’s Tax Free Weekend is a bit later than usual, running August 7-9. State law mandates that the holiday begins on the first Friday in August.
Tools for South Carolina media
The SCDOR’s Public Information Office has created a virtual interview video to help media with their Tax Free Weekend coverage. TV stations are encouraged to use video clips from the interview video in their Tax Free Weekend packages, and all media can refer to the virtual interview for answers to common questions about Tax Free Weekend.
When using the virtual interview, please attribute all quotes to:
Rob Walden, Content and Messaging Manager, SCDOR
View and download the virtual interview video
To download: View the video, click the three dots in the bottom right to view more options, then click Download.
Tools for retailers:
- Before Tax Free Weekend begins, visit dor.sc.gov/retailer-toolkit for in-store signage, sample social media posts, and retailer-specific FAQs.
- Report sales of eligible tax-exempt items made during Tax Free Weekend as a deduction on your August State Sales and Use Tax Worksheet. Enter “Sales Tax Holiday” as the deduction type.
- MyDORWAY is the easiest way to file your Sales Tax return. Our video tutorial can help you file.
Tax-exempt items are broken down into four categories:
- School supplies, including backpacks, flash drives, musical instruments, art supplies for school, notebooks, pens and pencils, school paper and other school essentials.
- Clothing & accessories, including shoes and footwear, athletic uniforms, socks and underwear, gloves and mittens, and coats and jackets.
- Computers & technology, including earbuds, headphones, and printers.
- Bed & bath items, including blankets, sheets, pillows, bedspreads, and towels.
Many items that may fall into one of those categories are still subject to Sales Tax, including smartphones, eReaders, video game consoles, cameras, sports equipment, furniture, mattresses, and box springs. The SCDOR encourages shoppers to visit dor.sc.gov/taxfreeweekend to see the full list of tax-exempt items before beginning their Tax Free Weekend shopping adventure.
Dig deeper:
Visit dor.sc.gov/taxfreeweekend for full details about Tax Free Weekend, also known as the Sales Tax Holiday. While you’re there, check out…
- Information Letter #26-16 for a complete list of exempt and non-exempt items.
- Revenue Ruling #19-4 for a list of FAQs, including what to do if you believe you were incorrectly charged Sales Tax on an item.
- SC Code Section 12-36-2120(57), which outlines the Sales Tax Holiday.
Follow us on social (@theSCDOR) for more Tax Free Weekend tips and reminders!
We’ll be highlighting eligible items and answering FAQs on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube. And don’t forget to sign up for our ReveNews newsletter to get info sent directly to your inbox.
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MEDIA INQUIRES:
SCDOR Public Information Office