By Rebekah Hall
U of A Extension Service
Arkansas families planning for back-to-school shopping may take advantage of the 2026 Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday Aug. 1-2.
The sales tax holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, and end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2. All retailers are required to participate and may not charge tax on items that are legally tax-exempt during the holiday. The current state sales and use tax is 6.5 percent.
Arkansas shoppers may purchase clothing, electronic devices, school and art supplies, and even diapers, free of tax. For a list of items and restrictions, visit the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s 2026 Sales Tax Holiday website.
For clothing, the sales tax holiday exemption applies to single articles costing less than $100, but there is no limit on the number of items that can be purchased. Items priced at $100 or more are subject to the full state and local sales tax.
For electronics, including calculators, cell phones, computer monitors, mice and keyboards, e-readers and more, there is no cost limit.
