What to watch: Texas families can save on back-to-school shopping during the state’s Tax-Free Weekend, Friday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 9. During those three days, you won’t pay sales tax on most qualifying clothing, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies that cost less than $100 each.

For example, a $50 pair of shoes would normally cost $54.13 after Midland’s 8.25% sales tax. During Tax-Free Weekend, you’d pay just $50. There is no limit to how many qualifying items you can buy. The tax exemption applies whether you shop in stores or online from Texas retailers, as long as you purchase during Tax-Free Weekend.

The big picture: Most everyday clothing and shoes priced under $100 qualify, including shirts, pants, dresses, shorts, jackets, sweaters, socks, pajamas, tennis shoes, sandals, and boots. Student backpacks, messenger bags, and rolling backpacks under $100 also qualify, but most luggage, duffel bags, purses, and computer bags do not.

Common school supplies such as binders, calculators, composition books, folders, glue, highlighters, index cards, legal pads, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, rulers, and scissors qualify. Some school supply kits also qualify depending on the value of the items included. See the full qualifying list here.

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Computers, tablets, software, textbooks, most electronics, specialty athletic or protective equipment, jewelry, watches, and umbrellas do not qualify.

Go deeper: Online sellers that do business in Texas are generally required to honor the exemption on qualifying items when the purchase is made during the weekend. Many retailers also often schedule back-to-school sales during Tax-Free Weekend, allowing shoppers to combine sale prices with the tax exemption.