Its not Black Friday but its the next best thing, as some local malls and stores opened early today for the annual Back to School Tax Free Weekend, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced below $100 from sales tax, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend during the weekend.
The Tax Free Weekend, which is the biggest sales tax free holiday in the country, exempts all shoppers from paying local and state sales tax on thousands of items.
Texans are expected to save $90 million in taxes this weekend.
Covered items are even tax free if they're bought on line, according to Anne Hatfield, who is the Texas spokeswoman for Walmart.
"You can also buy school supplies on the web site, our personal shoppers are in the store, and they will load it in their car for free, or they will deliver it to you, because we have both of these services in San Antonio," she said.
But Hatfield warns, keep an eye on the signs that are posted at Walmart and many other stores. The rules can be confusing, and many commonly purchased back to school items, including most electronics, are not exempt from sales tax.
"Any single school supply under $100, any single clothing item under $100, backpacks are tax free, purses are not. Regular shoes are tax free, but shoes with cleats are not."
Here is a list of all the items which are tax free through Sunday. (T) means 'taxed,' (E) means 'exempt':
Accessories (generally) (T)
Barrettes (T)
Belt buckles (sold separately) (T)
Bobby pins (T)
Briefcases (T)
Elastic ponytail holders (T)
Hair bows (T)
Hair clips (T)
Handbags (T)
Handkerchiefs (T)
Headbands (T)
Jewelry (T)
Key cases (T)
Purses (T)
Wallets (T)
Watch bands (T)
Watches (T)
Adult diapers (E)
Alterations (T)
Aprons (household) (E)
Aprons (welders) (T)
Athletic socks (E)
Baby bibs (E)
Baby clothes (E)
Baby diapers (cloth or disposable) (E)
Baseball caps (E)
Baseball cleats (T)
Baseball gloves (T)
Baseball jerseys (E)
Baseball pants (T)
Bathing caps (T)
Belt buckles (T)
Belts with attached buckles (E)
Belts for weight lifting (T)
Bicycle shoes (cleated) (T)
Blouses (E)
Boots (general purpose) (E)
Climbing Boots (cleated or spiked) (T)
Cowboy Boots (E)
Fishing (waders) (T)
Hiking (E)
Overshoes and galoshes (T)
Rubber work boots (T)
Ski Boots (T)
Waders (T)
Bow ties (E)
Bowling shirts (E)
Bowling shoes (rented and sold) (T)
Bras (E)
Buttons and zippers (T)
Camp clothes (E)
Caps (baseball, fishing, golf) (E)
Chef uniforms (E)
Children’s novelty costumes (E)
Chest protectors (T)
Clerical vestments (E)
Cloth and lace, knitting yarns, and other fabrics (T)
Clothing repair items, such as thread, buttons, tapes, and iron-on patches (T)
Coats and wraps (E)
Corsages and boutonnieres (T)
Coveralls (E)
Diapers (cloth and disposable) (E)
Dresses (E)
Dry cleaning services (T)
Earmuffs Cold weather (E)
Earmuffs Noise cancellation or noise cancelling (T)
Elbow pads (T)
Embroidery (T)
Employee uniforms (unless rented) (E)
Fabrics, thread, buttons, lace, patterns, knitting yarns (T)
Fins (swim) (T) Fishing boots (waders) (T)
Fishing caps (E)
Fishing vests (non-flotation) (E)
Football accessories Football jerseys (E)
Football pads (T) Football pants (T)
Gloves (generally) (E) Baseball (T) Batting (T) Bicycle (T) Dress (unless rented) (E) Garden (T) Golf (T) Hockey (T) Leather (E) Rubber (T) Surgical (T) Tennis (T) Work (T)
Goggles (T)
Golf accessories Golf caps (E)
Golf dresses (E) Golf gloves (T)
Golf jackets and windbreakers (E)
Golf shirts (E)
Golf skirts (E)
Golf purses (T)
Golf shoes (T)
Graduation caps and gowns (E)
Gym suits and uniforms (E)
Hair nets, bows, clips, and barrettes (T)
Handbags and purses (T)
Handkerchiefs (T)
Hard hats (T)
Hats (E)
Headbands (T)
Helmets (bike, baseball, football, hockey, motorcycle, sports) (T)
Hockey gloves (T)
Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts (E)
Hosiery, including support hosiery (E)
Hunting vests (E)
Ice skates (T)
Insoles (T)
Jackets (E)
Jeans (E)
Jewelry (T)
Jogging apparel (E)
Knee pads (T)
Knitted caps or hats (E)
Laundering services (T)
Leg warmers (E)
Leotards and tights (E)
Life jackets and vests (T)
Luggage (T)
Mask, costume (E)
Mask, protective - welder, umpire, swim (T)
Monogramming services (T)
Neckwear and ties (E)
Nightgowns and nightshirts (E)
Overshoes and rubber shoes (T)
Pads (football, hockey, soccer, elbow, knee, shoulder) (T)
Paint or dust respirators and incidental supplies (T)
Painter pants (E)
Pajamas (E)
Pants (E)
Panty hose (E)
Patterns (T)
Personal flotation devices (T)
Pocket squares (T)
Protective gloves (T)
Protective masks (T)
Raincoats and ponchos (E)
Rain hats (E)
Religious clothing (E)
Rented clothing (including uniforms, formal wear, and costumes) (T)
Repair of clothing or footwear (T)
Ribbons (T)
Robes (E)
Roller blades (T)
Roller skates (T)
Safety accessories Safety clothing (normally worn in hazardous occupations) (T) Safety glasses (except prescription) (T) Safety shoes (adaptable for street wear) (E) Safety shoes (not adaptable for street wear) (T)
Scarves (E)
Scout uniforms (E)
Sewing patterns (T)
Shawls and wraps (E)
Shin guards and padding (T)
Shirts (E)
Shirts (hooded) (E)
Shoe inserts (T)
Shoelaces (T)
Shoes (generally) (E) Ballet (T) Baseball cleats (T) Bicycle (cleated) (T) Boat (E) Bowling (T) Cleated or spiked (T) Cross trainers (E) Dress (E) Fishing boots (waders) (T) Flip-flops (rubber thongs) (E) Football (T) Golf (T) Jazz and dance (T) Jellies (E) Overshoes (T) Running (without cleats) (E) Safety (suitable for everyday use) (E) Sandals (E) Slippers (E) Sneakers and tennis (E) Soccer (cleated) (T) Spiked or cleated (T) Tap dance (T) Tennis (E) Track and cleats (T) Wading/water sport (T) Walking (E)
Shoe shines (T)
Shoe repairs (T)
Shoulder pads (for dresses, jackets, etc.) (T)
Shoulder pads (football, hockey, sports) (T)
Shorts (E) Shower caps (T)
Skates (ice and roller) (T)
Ski boots (snow) (T)
Ski suits (snow) (T)
Ski vests (water) (T)
Skirts (E)
Sleepwear, nightgowns, pajamas (E)
Slippers (E)
Slips (E)
Soccer socks (E)
Socks (E)
Sports helmets (T)
Sports pads (football, hockey, soccer, knee, elbow, shoulder) (T)
Suits, slacks, and jackets (E)
Sunglasses (except prescription) (T)
Support hosiery (E)
Suspenders (E)
Sweatbands (arm, wrist, head) (T)
Sweatshirts (E)
Sweat suits (E)
Sweaters (E)
Swimming masks and goggles (T)
Swimsuits (E)
Tennis accessories Tennis dresses (E) Tennis shorts (E) Tennis shoes (E) Tennis skirts (E)
Ties (neckties - all) (E)
Tights (E)
Track shoes and cleats (T)
Trousers (E)
Umbrellas (T)
Underclothes (E)
Underpants (E)
Undershirts (E)
Uniforms (school, work, nurse, waitress, military, postal, police, fire) (E)
Veils (E)
Vests (generally) (E) Bulletproof (T) Fishing (non-flotation) (E) Flotation (T) Hunting (E) Scuba (T) Water-ski (T)
Wallets (T)
Watch bands (T)
Watches (T)
Water ski vests (T)
Weight lifting belts (T)
Wet and dry suits (T)
Work clothes (E)
Work uniforms (E)
Workout clothes (E)
Wrist bands (T)
IMAGE; TEXAS COMPTROLLER