Texas' tax-free weekend runs Friday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, giving Dallas families a last-minute chance to pick up qualifying back-to-school basics before Dallas ISD begins on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.
According to the Texas Comptroller, most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks sold for less than $100 qualify for the exemption. That also includes eligible online or catalog orders placed with sellers doing business in Texas, and in most cases shoppers do not need to provide an exemption certificate.
Not every back-to-school purchase makes the list. The Comptroller says computers, textbooks, handbags and most specially designed athletic or protective gear still do not qualify, and items bought before Friday, Aug. 7, or after Sunday, Aug. 9, are not eligible for a refund.
For parents in Dallas, the useful prep now is to separate the items that qualify from the ones that do not. That can make the weekend feel less like a rushed errand and more like a real chance to save before school schedules tighten up.
