Your state may offer consumers a sales tax holiday on back-to-school purchases. Watch for the starting date, the duration of the holiday, and the items to which the holiday applies. For example, holidays start on July 19 in Alabama and on July 26 in Mississippi and Tennessee. A number of other states have sales tax holidays in August. Find more details on the dates for sales tax holidays and what type of items enjoy the holiday from the Federation of Tax Administrators.