A temporary rule is still a real rule
Tennessee has a recurring back-to-school holiday for qualifying clothing, school supplies, and computers; temporary grocery holidays, when enacted, require separate effective-date rules.
Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday - Clothing, School Supplies & Computers (traditional back-to-school holiday)
Calendar status: active
When: Annual: begins 12:01 a.m. on the last Friday in July and ends 11:59 p.m. the following Sunday. 2025: July 25-27, 2025; 2026: Friday July 31 through Sunday August 2, 2026.
Authority: Tenn. Code Ann. 67-6-393
Purchaser restrictions: None (general consumer holiday; per DOR guidance, items are those for personal use).
Clothing (shirts, pants, shoes, dresses, etc.)
- notes: Items priced over $100 are fully taxable; bundled items cannot be split to get under the limit. Jewelry, handbags, and sports/recreational equipment are excluded.
- price threshold per item: $100 or less per item
School supplies and school art supplies (binders, backpacks, pens, pencils, art supplies)
- price threshold per item: $100 or less per item
Computers (laptops, tablets) for personal use
- notes: Storage media, software, and printer supplies are excluded.
- price threshold per item: $1,500 or less
Official holiday source Sales Tax Holiday for Gun Safes and Gun Safety Devices
Calendar status: expired
When: One continuous period: 12:01 a.m. July 1, 2021 through 11:59 p.m. June 30, 2023 (not recurring).
Authority: Tenn. Code Ann. 67-6-393; original holiday July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022, extended one year by Public Chapter 1053 (2022) (TN DOR Notice #22-06)
Purchaser restrictions: None.
Program ended: 2023-06-30
Gun safes (locking containers/enclosures designed for secure storage of firearms) and gun safety devices (integral devices permitting operation only by authorized users)
- notes: No price threshold. Notice #22-06 states all retail sales of gun safes and gun safety devices after June 30, 2023 are subject to sales tax; however, a separate PERMANENT exemption for firearm safes and firearm safety devices was later enacted (HB7012/SB7085, 2023 special session), effective November 1, 2023 - see TN DOR Notice #23-16 and https://www.tn.gov/revenue/news/2023/8/30/important-notice-posted--exemption-for-firearm-safes-and-safety-devices.html
Official holiday source 2021 Sales Tax Holiday for Food, Food Ingredients, and Prepared Food
Calendar status: expired
When: One-time: 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 30, 2021 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, August 5, 2021.
Authority: Public Chapter 456 (2021); Tenn. Code Ann. 67-6-393 (TN DOR Notice #21-10)
Purchaser restrictions: None.
Program ended: 2021-08-05
Food and food ingredients, plus prepared food (including grocery stores, restaurants, food trucks, takeout)
- notes: Alcoholic beverages excluded.
Official holiday source 2022 Sales Tax Holiday for Food and Food Ingredients
Calendar status: expired
When: One-time: 12:01 a.m. Monday, August 1, 2022 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
Authority: Public Chapter 1131 (2022); Tenn. Code Ann. 67-6-102 and 67-6-393 (TN DOR Notice #22-10)
Purchaser restrictions: None.
Program ended: 2022-08-31
Food and food ingredients (grocery food; items otherwise taxed at the 4% state food rate plus local rate)
- notes: Excludes alcoholic beverages, tobacco, candy, dietary supplements, and prepared food; micro market and vending machine sales remained taxable.
Official holiday source 2023 Sales Tax Holiday for Food and Food Ingredients (three-month grocery tax holiday)
Calendar status: expired
When: One-time: 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, August 1, 2023 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
Authority: Public Chapter 377 (2023) (Tennessee Works Tax Act; TN DOR Notice #23-09)
Purchaser restrictions: None.
Program ended: 2023-10-31
Food and food ingredients (grocery food)
- notes: Excludes alcoholic beverages, tobacco, candy, dietary supplements, and prepared food; micro market and vending machine sales remained taxable.
Official holiday source Holiday logic must check the event window, item definition, price cap, transaction timing, local participation, exchanges, and rain checks—not simply turn off tax for an entire state.