Families throughout San Antonio are flocking to local retailers this weekend to prepare for the upcoming school year, taking advantage of the state’s annual sales tax holiday. From sneakers and backpacks to notebooks and apparel, parents are stocking up on essentials while keeping a bit more money in their pockets at the checkout counter. Many shoppers have been attempting to beat both the midday heat and the inevitable crowds by hitting the stores early.
At an Academy Sports + Outdoors location, Sofia Chaparro and her mother, Selina Zertuche, found themselves picking up more than they had initially planned. While they entered the store solely in search of new tennis shoes, they ended up adding hoodies and sweatpants to their cart. Zertuche admitted with a laugh that they hadn’t particularly wanted to spend their time shopping but felt relieved that the aisles weren’t as packed as they had anticipated given the popularity of the event.
The benefits of the tax-free window extend beyond students, as adults are also utilizing the break for necessary wardrobe updates. Mary Fernandez visited shops with her husband to find lightweight outdoor gear suitable for his work in air conditioning, noting that South Texas heat typically lingers for another couple of months. For them, saving twenty dollars on sales tax was a welcome win, providing enough extra cash to cover a family lunch.
According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, the holiday applies to most clothing, shoes, and school supplies priced under one hundred dollars per item, regardless of whether they are purchased in person or online. Former educator Vickie Warlow noted that these savings are vital for larger families who often face steep costs when equipping multiple children for class. With estimates suggesting Texans will save over one hundred forty million dollars collectively during this period, residents have until midnight Sunday to finish their checklists before taxes return.
