Illinois back-to-school sales tax holiday 2026 runs August 7-16, cutting the state portion of sales tax by 5 percentage points on eligible school supplies and qualifying clothing and footwear under $125 per item, while local taxes still apply across the state.
Illinois shoppers can pay a reduced state sales tax rate on qualifying back-to-school purchases during a 10-day tax holiday running from Friday, August 7, 2026, through Sunday, August 16, 2026. The Illinois Department of Revenue says the state portion of the tax is reduced by 5 percentage points, from 6.25% to 1.25%, on eligible items.
Eligible school supplies
Qualifying school supplies include many classroom basics used by students, such as binders, bookbags, calculators, crayons, folders, glue, highlighters, lunch boxes, notebooks, pencils, pens, rulers and scissors.
Unlike clothing and footwear, eligible school supplies are not subject to the $125 price threshold.
Clothing and footwear under $125
Certain clothing and footwear qualify when the retail selling price is less than $125 per item.
Examples include shirts, pants, dresses, school uniforms, coats, hats, gloves, socks, sneakers, sandals and boots. The $125 limit applies separately to each qualifying clothing or footwear item.
Items excluded from the tax holiday
The reduced rate does not apply to clothing priced at $125 or more or to accessories such as handbags, wallets, jewelry, watches, cosmetics, nonprescription sunglasses and umbrellas.
Sports and recreational equipment, protective gear and specialized athletic footwear such as cleated shoes, skates and ski boots are also excluded.
Computers, computer accessories, flash drives, printers, printer cartridges, cameras, cell phones, textbooks, workbooks and many art supplies are not covered by the holiday.
Local sales taxes can still apply
The holiday reduces only the state portion of Illinois sales tax. Local sales taxes may still apply, meaning the total rate shown on a shopper's receipt can vary depending on where the purchase is made.
Consumers can review the Illinois Department of Revenue's guidance for the complete list of qualifying and nonqualifying purchases before shopping.
The temporary tax reduction runs through Sunday, August 16, 2026, giving families a limited window to receive the lower state tax rate on eligible back-to-school purchases while normal local taxes remain in effect.
