It’s hard to believe the 2026–27 school year is almost here — and that means back-to-school shopping in Branson is in full swing.
Just in time, the Missouri 2026 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday, August 7 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 9 at midnight. During this limited weekend, certain back-to-school purchases are exempt from all state sales or use taxes (as defined by Missouri statute).
If you’re planning a shopping run in Downtown Branson, make it easier on yourself: park once and ride Sparky for free.
What is Missouri’s Sales Tax Holiday?
Missouri’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is designed to help families stretch their budgets by removing state sales tax on specific school-related items for one weekend only.
In plain terms: if you buy qualifying items during the holiday and stay within the price limits, you won’t pay state sales tax on those purchases.
What items qualify (and what are the limits)?
The sales tax exemption is limited to the following categories and price caps:
- Clothing: any article having a taxable value of $100 or less
- School supplies: not to exceed $50 per purchase
- Computer software: taxable value of $350 or less
- Personal computers: not to exceed $1,500
- Computer peripheral devices: not to exceed $1,500
- Graphing calculators: not to exceed $150
Quick definitions (straight from Missouri statute)
Missouri law (Section 144.049, RSMo) defines the exempt items during the sales tax holiday. Here are the highlights in everyday language.
Clothing
“Clothing” includes articles of wearing apparel intended to be worn on or about the human body — including disposable diapers and footwear. It also includes cloth and other material used to make school uniforms or other school clothing.
A few important notes:
- Items normally sold in pairs can’t be separated to qualify.
- “Clothing” does not include items like watches, jewelry, handbags, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, or belt buckles.
Personal computers
“Personal computers” include laptop, desktop, or tower systems that consist of the core components (CPU, memory, storage, monitor, keyboard), plus devices designed for use with a personal computer.
Examples of included devices can include:
- Disk drive, memory module, compact disk drive
- Microphone, modem, motherboard, mouse
- Printer, scanner, speakers
- Single-user hardware and operating systems
- Sound card or video card
School supplies
“School supplies” are items normally used by students in a standard classroom for educational purposes.
Examples include:
- Textbooks, notebooks, paper, writing instruments
- Crayons, art supplies, rulers
- Book bags, backpacks
- Handheld calculators and graphing calculators
- Chalk, maps, globes
Not included in “school supplies”:
- Watches, radios, CD players, headphones
- Sporting equipment
- Portable or desktop telephones
- Copiers or other office equipment
- Furniture or fixtures
Make your shopping trip easier: Ride Sparky
Downtown Branson gets busy during back-to-school season — and convenient parking can be at a premium.
Sparky is Branson’s free hop-on, hop-off trolley that loops through downtown with convenient stops, making it easy to get from parking to shopping (and back again) without moving your car.
Why locals and visitors love Sparky
- Free to ride (tips accepted but never required)
- 12 stops on a loop through downtown Branson
- Wheelchair accessible with lifts
- Great for families who don’t want to juggle bags and parking
Plan ahead
Tax-free weekend is short, so a little planning goes a long way:
- Make a list of what you need (and check the price limits)
- Shop early in the weekend if you can
- Park once and use Sparky to move around downtown
Need help?
For more information about Sparky, visit RideSparky.com