Back-To-School Tax Holiday Starts Now For 14 Days

CHICAGO — The Illinois 10-day tax holiday on school supplies begins Friday, Aug. 5. Families and teachers can expect to have reduced shopping costs ahead of the upcoming school year.

The law lowers the state tax rate on school supplies and eligible clothes and footwear from 6.25% down to 1.25% for 10 days, from Aug. 5 through Aug. 14.

Eligible items include qualifying clothing and footwear such as school uniforms, coats, sneakers, rainwear, and winter gear with a retail selling price of less than $125 per item. Eligible school supplies including book bags, calculators, and other items used by students for studying are not subject to the $125 threshold.

Unfortunately, items such as computer accessories, masks, sports or recreational equipment like gloves or mouth guards, and art supplies including paint and watercolors. Items over $125 are also excluded.

Teachers will also find a break when stocking up on classroom supplies, including blackboard chalk, binders, index cards, writing tablets, and more. Teachers can also receive an income tax credit up to $250 for school supplies purchased for their classrooms.

"Our parents shouldn't have to choose between buying essential school supplies for their children and putting food on the kitchen table. Our teachers shouldn't have to break the bank to do right by the students that they nurture day in and day out," Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news releaase. "Back to school should be as stress-free as possible for working families and their children, and this tax holiday will help remove some of that burden."