What’s a sales tax holiday?
Sales tax holidays are a way for US states to encourage spending on product categories they consider essential or desirable for citizens to own. These can range from emergency generators through school supplies to computers.
New York was the first state to enact a sales tax holiday in 1997, with other states following suit.
There are different eligibility dates in each participating state, starting from Friday.
Sales tax holiday: Apple products
Different states offer tax-free shopping for different product categories, and there are also maximum spend limits in many states. Here are the details Apple has posted so far:
Alabama
Dates: July 21–23
Maximum total spend: $750
Eligible products:
Computers and accessories under $750 Mac computers iPad models Accessories (purchased with computer) Keyboards Mice Apple Pencil Speakers Monitors Printers Computer storage media, diskettes, compact disks Apple and third-party software (nonrecreational)Arkansas
Dates: August 5–6
Maximum total spend: Unlimited
Eligible products:
All Mac computers All iPad models All iPhone models Printers Accessories Keyboards Mice Apple Pencil DisplaysFlorida
Dates: July 24–August 6
Maximum total spend: $1500
Eligible products:
Computers under $1500 Mac computers iPad models Accessories and other products under $1500 Displays Keyboards Mice Apple Pencil Speakers Headphones RAM Storage Microphones Printers Computer cables Routers Scanners Hard drives Nonrecreational software Computer batteries AppleCare (when sold with and for eligible items)Missouri
Dates: August 4–6
Maximum total spend: $1500
Eligible products:
Computers under $1500 Mac computers iPad models Accessories and other products under $1500 Displays Keyboards Mice Apple Pencil Speakers RAM upgrades Storage drives Microphones Printers Routers Scanners Hard drives (including Apple TV) Flash drives Apple and third-party software (nonrecreational) under $350Tennessee
Dates: July 28–30
Maximum total spend: $1500
Eligible products:
Computers and accessories under $1500 Mac computers iPad models Accessories and other products (purchased with computer) Displays Keyboards Mice Apple Pencil Speakers Cables ScannersWest Virginia
Dates: August 4–7
Maximum total spend: $500
Eligible products:
iPad models under $500Other states expected to follow
Based on qualifying products listed by other states, we would expect either three or four additional states to be added.
The following states are participating, with product categories covering some Apple products:
Massachusetts New Jersey New Mexico South CarolinaHowever, for some reason New Jersey was not listed by Apple last year, despite offering tax-free shopping of up to $3000 in the computing category.