Tax-Free Weekend 2017: List Of States Offering Discounts On Back-To-School Items

The back-to-school sales are coming with participating states suspending or decreasing sales tax on certain products. The tax-free weekend for most states begins Aug. 4 while some also carry out the promotions end of August.

Nearly half of the 45 states and the District of Columbia that impose sales taxes on many goods, will reduce the price of certain products during the weekend in August. The five states that don't impose a sales tax – Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon – will continue to sell products at the same cost. States such as Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee organized a tax-free weekend on the last weekend of July.

Read: How Much Money Do Parents Spend On Back To School Shopping?

To avail the discount there is no requirement of any coupon as sales tax will be automatically deducted on eligible items at checkout in the participating states. For those who live in states not offering tax exemptions can travel to states that are participating.

According to the National Retail Federation, total spending, for primary and secondary school and college, could reach $83.6 billion in 2017, up from $75.8 billion last year and $68 billion in 2015.

"Families are now in a state of mind where they feel a lot more confident about the economy," Matthew Shay, the federation's president and chief executive officer, said in a news release. "With stronger employment levels and a continued increase in wages, consumers are spending more, and we are optimistic that they will continue to do so throughout the rest of the year."

Deloitte, a worldwide professional services firm, also conducted a survey on the expectations of 2017's back to school shopping, saying that an average school supply spending per household increased to $501 nationally.

"With today’s technology-based education system there is less need for traditional school supplies, likely contributing to the shift toward more spending on clothing and accessories before children head back to school," Rob Sides, vice chairman of Deloitte LLP, said. "Part of this shift may also come from the popularity of pre-configured school supply kits, which 30 percent of families plan to use."

Here is a list of states and dates of tax-free promotions, according to a list compiled by DealNews.

Arkansas — Aug. 5-6 — clothing, accessories, art supplies and school supplies.

Connecticut — Aug. 20-26 — clothing and footwear.

Florida — August but dates are unconfirmed — clothing, accessories and school supplies.

Iowa — Aug. 4-5 — clothing and footwear.

Maryland — Aug. 13-19 — clothing and footwear.

Massachusetts — Aug. 12-13 (but dates unconfirmed) — clothing and footwear.

Missouri — Aug. 4-6 — clothing, computers, software, graphic calculators and school supplies.

New Mexico — Aug. 4-6 — clothing, shoes, computers and school supplies.

Ohio — Aug. 4-6 — clothing and school supplies.

Oklahoma — Aug. 4-6 — clothing.

Read: When Is The First Day Back To School? List Of College Start Dates