Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman is reminding Marylanders that Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week begins this Sunday, Aug. 9, giving families a chance to save on back-to-school shopping while supporting local retailers.
From 12:01 a.m. Sunday through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, qualifying clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per item are exempt from Maryland’s 6% sales tax. The first $40 of a backpack or bookbag’s purchase price is also tax-free. The exemption applies per item, not to a purchase’s total — meaning an item priced even a cent over $100 is fully taxed on its entire price, not just the amount above the threshold. Eligible purchases made online at Maryland retailers during the week also qualify, and other accessory items besides backpacks are not included.
“As families across Maryland prepare for the school year, every dollar matters,” Lierman said. “Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week helps parents stretch their budgets while encouraging Marylanders to support the local businesses that strengthen our communities. Whether you are shopping for back-to-school essentials or updating your own wardrobe, this week is a great time to save.”
Lierman formally announced this year’s tax-free week and an accompanying video contest in mid-July at a press event at Beltway Plaza Mall in Greenbelt. With roughly 870,000 K-12 students statewide and the National Retail Federation estimating families spend an average of $424.30 a year on clothing and shoes, the 6% exemption could save families an average of about $25.46 if they timed all that spending to the tax-free week, according to Maryland Matters.
Marylanders can also compete for cash prizes through the Maryland Tax-Free Week Video Contest, sponsored and administered by the Maryland Retailers Alliance in partnership with the Comptroller’s office. To enter, participants film a short video — 15 to 60 seconds — at a Maryland brick-and-mortar retailer sharing a money-saving tip, post it publicly on Instagram, Facebook, X or YouTube (TikTok entries aren’t accepted), tag @MDComptroller and @MarylandRetailersAlliance with #ShopMDTaxFreeContest, and submit the video link through the official entry form. Prizes are tiered: $1,000 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third. Entries are due by Aug. 12, with winners announced Aug. 14.
For a complete list of qualifying and non-qualifying items, frequently asked questions, and additional information about Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week, visit the Comptroller of Maryland’s programs page.
