CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined community leaders and lawmakers to encourage Illinoisans to participate in the Back-to-School State Tax Holiday, which waives the state sales tax on back-to-school necessities fromAug. 7 through Aug. 16, 2026. This 10-day period is expected to provide an estimated $10 million in savings to online and in-store consumers on essential back-to-school items, including clothing, footwear, and school supplies.
“In Illinois, parents are working every day to make sure their kids have all the support they need, but failed leadership in Washington is rising prices and squeezing families’ budgets,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Every child deserves to walk into the classroom on equal footing with what they need to learn and grow. Every parent deserves the breathing room and peace of mind to prepare and focus on helping their kids succeed. This action gives families a little bit more relief by helping them save on back-to-school necessities.”
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“The Back-to-School Sales Tax holiday was a priority of the FY27 budget because of our commitment to affordability and accessibility for our families,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “We’re actively working to reduce costs across the board, from housing, education, childcare, and the essentials during this tax holiday, so our families can feel a little relief in their wallets this month.”
Enacted under the FY27 state budget package, the Back-to-School sales tax holiday builds on Governor Pritzker’s ongoing commitment to improving affordability for Illinois families. From reduced prices on clothing to calculators, the 10-day tax holiday seeks to ease rising costs typical of the back-to-school season. During the tax holiday, the state will waive its 5% sales tax on qualifying purchases. Any applicable local sales tax will continue to apply.
The 10-day tax holiday comes at a critical time for Illinois residents, as the Trump administration's flawed economic policies and failed leadership continue to drive up prices for essential items. From electricity bills to grocery prices, everyday costs have skyrocketed over the past year – with school supplies being no exception.
Amid conditions of economic uncertainty, families are starting to adjust their spending approaches to account for additional constrains. A new survey from Deloitte found that half of all parents say they are cutting back on other household expenses to make room for back-to-school shopping. In the same survey, 57% of parents expect the economy to worsen in the next six months, the highest recorded percentage since 2020.
The tax holiday seeks to alleviate these mounting financial burdens at a time when it is needed most. By taking advantage of this ten-day initiative, parents and students alike can enter the school year confident, prepared, and well-equipped for the year ahead.
"The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday provides Illinois families with an opportunity to save money on purchases as they prepare for the upcoming school year," IDOR Director David Harris said. "We encourage shoppers to review the list of eligible items and plan their purchases to take full advantage of the available savings."
“The start of a new school year is an exciting time for kids. A new year brings new opportunities, new experiences, and new friends. We want every student and teacher to have what they need to be successful. A new pair of shoes or a bundle of fresh pencils can make all the difference,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “It’s so important that we continue to prioritize the needs of our students and educators, as they play a major role in shaping the future of our state.”
“As families across the state get ready to send their children back to the classroom, every dollar matters," said House Assistant Majority Leader Curis J. Tarver. II (D-Chicago). "The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday puts money back in the pockets of hardworking parents and helps ensure all students have the supplies they need to succeed."
“The data shows that costs for common school supplies, from scissors to lunchboxes and even glue sticks, is on the rise, and that doesn’t even begin to account for the increases residents are seeing at the grocery store, at the gas pump, or on their health care and utility bills,” said State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This state tax holiday is about recognizing families’ needs for assistance on affording everyday necessities and ensuring their focus can remain on their student receiving the best education possible – not the price of notebooks and pencils.”
“Every dollar matters for Illinois families, especially as they prepare for a new school year,” said State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. “The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is about putting money back in the pockets of working families when they need it most. By lowering the cost of essential school supplies and clothing, we're helping parents focus on preparing their children for success in the classroom – not worrying about how to make every paycheck stretch.”
“The combination of discounts and sales by Illinois retailers and this sales tax holiday by the state is a great combination to help address affordability as families prepare for another school year," said Rob Karr, President and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.
“For families already balancing the rising costs of everyday life, school supply expenses can add significant pressure to the household budget,” said State Senator Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights). “Through the Back-to-School sales tax holiday, we are relieving some of that burden and giving parents a little more breathing room.”
Qualifying clothing and footwear with a retail selling price of less than $125 per item are eligible for the reduced tax rate. Examples of qualifying items include shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, and other everyday clothing items. Qualifying school supplies, including items such as notebooks, folders, binders, pens, pencils, and calculators, are also eligible for the reduced tax rate. There is no price limit on qualifying school supplies.
Retailers throughout Illinois will automatically apply the reduced state sales tax rate to qualifying purchases made during the sales tax holiday, and all retailers registered in the State are required to comply with the conditions of the tax holiday.
A complete list of qualifying and non-qualifying items can be found here.
