Introduction
Every year, Maryland residents look forward to a special event that helps stretch their dollars a little further—Maryland's tax free weekend. This limited-time sales tax holiday is a prime opportunity for families, students, and savvy shoppers to stock up on essentials without paying the standard 6% state sales tax.
Whether you're preparing for the school year, refreshing your wardrobe, or simply seeking seasonal savings, understanding the ins and outs of Maryland’s tax free weekend can help you maximize your savings. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know—from eligible items and purchase limits to online shopping rules and retailer participation, including Amazon.
Understanding Maryland Tax Free Weekend
A tax free weekend is a state-designated sales tax holiday during which specific items can be purchased without the additional cost of state sales tax. These events are typically timed to support seasonal shopping trends—and in Maryland, that means helping families, students, and educators prepare for the back-to-school season.
Maryland’s version, officially called Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week, is a highly anticipated annual event that provides a chance to save 6%—the state’s standard sales tax rate—on eligible items. It’s a welcome relief for many households during a time when expenses tend to pile up with the start of a new school year.
Key Facts:
- Dates: Maryland's tax-free week usually runs from the second Sunday in August through the following Saturday. While the exact dates for 2025 have yet to be announced, this schedule has remained consistent in recent years.
- Purpose: The goal is twofold—to ease financial pressure on families by reducing the cost of essential purchases, and to boost the local economy by encouraging shopping at Maryland-based retailers during a peak consumer spending period.
What’s Included in the Maryland Tax-Free Week
During Maryland’s tax-free week, shoppers can enjoy significant savings on everyday essentials, thanks to a sales tax exemption on qualifying clothing and footwear items. This can make a big difference—especially for families gearing up for the school year or anyone looking to update their wardrobe on a budget.
Tax-Free Items:
The tax exemption applies to clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per item. It’s important to note that the $100 threshold is per individual item, not per transaction, which means you can purchase multiple eligible items without worrying about a total spending cap.
Included Examples:
- Tax-Free: T-shirts, jeans, sneakers, socks, dresses, school uniforms, and everyday shoes.
- These are considered general-use clothing and footwear and qualify as long as each item costs $100 or less before tax.
What’s Not Included:
Some items, even if they’re worn or used similarly to clothing, are excluded from the tax exemption. This includes:
- Accessories: Jewelry, watches, handbags, wallets, ties, and hair accessories.
- Special-use and protective gear: Sports cleats, helmets, shoulder pads, tool belts, and protective footwear (e.g., steel-toe boots).
- Designer or high-end items: If a clothing item costs more than $100, the entire price becomes taxable, even if it’s just a few dollars over the limit.
Shopping Tip: You can buy as many qualifying items as you like, as long as each individual item is $100 or less. For example, purchasing 10 shirts at $30 each would be fully tax-free, while a single $120 jacket would be fully taxed.
Online Purchases and Tax Exemptions
In today’s world of convenient online shopping, many Maryland residents wonder if they can still benefit from the tax-free weekend without setting foot in a store. The good news? Yes, online purchases can qualify for tax exemptions during Maryland’s tax-free week—but there are some important rules to keep in mind.
Online Shopping Rules:
- Retailer Must Collect Maryland Sales Tax: For an online purchase to be eligible for the tax exemption, the retailer must either be based in Maryland or be a remote seller that collects Maryland sales tax. This includes many major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, but it’s always a good idea to check the retailer’s tax collection status before finalizing your order.
- Timing Is Everything: The transaction must be completed during the official tax-free week, which means payment must be processed between the start and end dates of the event. Simply placing an item in your cart or saving it for later does not qualify—the order must be confirmed and paid for within the designated timeframe to receive the tax exemption.
- Item Price Still Applies: The same $100-per-item threshold applies to online purchases. If an individual item exceeds $100, it will be fully taxable, regardless of where or how it's purchased.
- Shipping Charges Don't Affect Exemption: The good news is that shipping and handling fees are not factored into the item's price when determining tax eligibility. For example, if you buy a pair of shoes for $95 and pay $10 for shipping, the shoes still qualify for tax exemption because the item price remains under $100.
Participation of Major Retailers
Major retailers, including Amazon, participate in Maryland’s tax-free weekend—but with caveats.
Does Amazon Participate?
Yes, Amazon honors Maryland's tax free week, but:
- You must ensure that Amazon or the third-party seller collects Maryland sales tax.
- Eligible items will automatically reflect the tax exemption at checkout.
Other Retailers:
- National chains like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy usually promote tax-free deals.
- Local businesses often offer additional discounts to attract shoppers during this busy period.
Tip: Check with the retailer beforehand to confirm participation and eligibility.
Limitations and Exclusions
While Maryland’s tax-free week offers great savings on many clothing and footwear items, it’s important to note that not all products qualify for the sales tax exemption. Understanding what’s excluded will help you avoid surprises at checkout and ensure you’re focusing on items that actually qualify for tax-free status.
Excluded Items:
- Accessories are not considered essential clothing under the tax-free guidelines and are therefore fully taxable during the week. These include:
- Belts and belt buckles
- Watches and jewelry (e.g., earrings, necklaces, bracelets)
- Wallets, handbags, purses, and briefcases
- Ties, scarves, and hair accessories (e.g., headbands, barrettes)
- Items intended for sports, recreation, or protection—even if worn on the body—do not qualify for the tax exemption. These include:
- Cleats and athletic shoes designed specifically for sports (e.g., soccer cleats, football shoes)
- Helmets, shoulder pads, and mouthguards
- Protective boots (e.g., steel-toe work boots), knee pads, and tool belts
- Note: General-use sneakers and everyday athletic shoes are tax-free, but specialized sports footwear is not.
- Maryland’s tax-free week is focused solely on clothing and footwear, so other common back-to-school purchases are not included. These items remain fully taxable:
- Electronics (e.g., laptops, tablets, calculators)
- School supplies (e.g., notebooks, backpacks, pens, rulers)
- Home goods, toys, furniture, and personal care items
This is a key difference from some other states that do offer tax exemptions on school supplies and electronics during their sales tax holidays. In Maryland, these items must be purchased separately and will include the standard 6% sales tax.
Why These Items Are Excluded:
The goal of the sales tax holiday is to provide relief on necessary, everyday clothing and footwear, rather than luxury, specialty, or non-essential items. By understanding these exclusions, shoppers can prioritize their spending and maximize savings on eligible purchases.
Maximizing Your Savings
To truly maximize your savings during Maryland’s tax-free week, a little strategic planning can go a long way. With high demand, limited-time deals, and specific eligibility rules, preparing in advance ensures you not only save on sales tax but also get the best value for your money.
Smart Shopping Tips:
- Focus your list on clothing and footwear items under $100 each, and prioritize essentials like school uniforms, jeans, shoes, and outerwear. This helps you stay on budget and avoid wasting time or money on items that aren’t tax-free.
- Don’t assume tax-free means the best deal. Retailers may adjust prices during high-demand weeks, so it’s worth checking prices both online and in-store before the tax-free week begins. Look for sales flyers, online promotions, and price-matching policies to score extra savings.
- Popular sizes, styles, and brands often sell out quickly. By shopping early in the week, you’ll have a wider selection and avoid the last-minute rush, especially for children’s clothing and school shoes.
- Not all online retailers automatically apply Maryland’s tax exemption. Before purchasing, confirm that the retailer collects Maryland sales tax and that the order will be processed during the tax-free window. Double-check your cart at checkout to ensure no tax is applied to eligible items.
- One of the best parts of tax-free week? You can still use store coupons, promo codes, loyalty rewards, and clearance deals. Combining these with the 6% tax savings can add up to significant discounts, especially for larger families or back-to-school shopping hauls.
Conclusion
Maryland’s tax free weekend is a golden opportunity for families, students, and budget-conscious shoppers to save on essentials before the school year kicks off. With proper planning and an understanding of the rules, you can maximize your savings—whether shopping in-store or online.
Don’t forget to share this guide with friends and family, and stay tuned for official dates and updates for Maryland Tax Free Weekend 2025!
FAQs
Clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per item, excluding accessories and special-use items.
Yes, if the retailer collects Maryland sales tax and the purchase is completed during the tax-free period.
Yes, Amazon honors Maryland’s tax-free week, but only for eligible items sold by sellers that collect Maryland sales tax.
During the tax-free week: clothing and footwear under $100 per item. Normal taxable items remain taxed.
Items exempt from sales tax during the designated period—primarily clothing and footwear under the set threshold.
