Mississippi sales tax holiday starts Friday for back-to-school shopping

Mississippi families get a three-day sales tax break starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 10, when the state’s annual Sales Tax Holiday opens on qualifying clothing, footwear and school supplies priced under $100 per item. The window closes at midnight Sunday, July 12, giving Oxford and Lafayette County shoppers one narrow weekend to buy ahead of the school year.

The savings add up quickly on a typical back-to-school cart. A Lafayette County family buying a $42 pair of shoes, a $28 pair of jeans, a $19 shirt and $15 in school supplies would spend $104 before tax, and would save $7.28 during the holiday. After the holiday ends, Mississippi’s 7% sales tax would apply again on qualifying items that do not meet the exemption.

The state’s rules are strict on what qualifies. The exemption applies per item, not to the total basket, so multiple qualifying purchases can go in the same transaction as long as each item stays below $100. Rentals do not qualify, and items sold as a unit, such as a pair of shoes or a uniform, must stay sold as a set to be tax-free. Mississippi also will not let shoppers average together buy-one-get-one-free or reduced-price promotions to push both items under the cap.

That timetable was moved into place by Senate Bill 2470, which the Mississippi Legislature passed in the 2024 regular session. The law extended the holiday by a day and shifted it to the second Friday in July, which is why this year’s tax-free stretch runs Friday through Sunday instead of ending on a Saturday.

For Oxford families, the dates land right in the middle of back-to-school planning. Oxford School District lists Aug. 5, 2026, as the first day of school, and Lafayette County School District has already posted its 2026-27 calendar. That leaves about a month between the tax holiday and the first bell, enough time for parents to compare prices, make their lists and decide whether to buy now or wait for the weekend.

Oxford-area retailers are likely to feel the rush as shoppers try to fold clothing and supply trips into one quick stretch. The holiday’s short window tends to concentrate demand, which makes early shopping on Friday a practical move for families hoping to avoid crowded stores and empty shelves before the tax break ends.