The 2026 sales tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 7, and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 9. The sales tax exemption applies only to qualifying items you buy during the sales tax holiday. Layaways During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying items tax free when you: make the final payment on an item already on layaway; orchoose an item and place it on layawaySpecial Orders and Rain Checks During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying items tax free, even if the items have to be ordered. If you buy the qualifying item after the sales tax holiday, a special order made or rain check given during the sales tax holiday does not qualify the item for exemption. Sales Tax Holiday Refund RequestsIf you pay sales tax on qualifying items during the sales tax holiday, you can ask the seller for a refund of the tax paid.