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
- Displays
Florida
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 $350
Tennessee
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
- Scanners
West Virginia
Dates: August 4–7
Maximum total spend: $500
Eligible products:
- iPad models under $500
Other 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 Carolina
However, 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.
