Checking off your school supply list? — SC’s Tax Free Weekend runs August 1st-3rd

IRMO, SC (WOLO) — For many students across the Midlands, a new school year starts as early as next week! And to help provide some financial relief, tax free weekend begins on Friday.

August 1st kicks off South Carolina’s Tax Free Weekend –running through August 3rd — with essential items like school supplies, backpacks, computers, clothes, and shoes available for purchase without paying the state’s six percent sales tax and other applicable local taxes.

Items like cell phones, cosmetics, jewelry, cleaning supplies sports equipment, and paper products like toilet paper — are not included.

To help check off everything you need, Marc Stephens with Walmart at 1180 Dutch Fork Road in Irmo says many teachers across the Midlands have uploaded their supply lists to the store’s website. Simply type in your zip code and find your school to see requested items.

Click here for access.

Stephens also says prices have been lowered on many of those must-have items.

“We’ve taken the top 14 most popular school supplies and we’ve reduced the price on them, and we’re not talking about just reduce compared to last year. (This is a) six year low. We did this for our customers, so that’s something we’re excited about, and people can come in and take advantage of those things,” he says.

And remember, as long as an item is eligible, it is tax free whether purchased in-store or online.

According to the SC Department of Revenue, palmetto state shoppers spent over $30 million on tax free items during tax free weekend in 2024 — resulting in shoppers saving over $1.8 million in sales tax.