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Monday, August 24, 2026 at 9:02 AM

IL Offers Temporary Sales Tax Reduction on Backto-School

Shopping

Parents starting on back-to-school shopping will get a temporary sales tax break for 10 days this month.

From Aug. 7-16, the state’s sales tax on school supplies will be reduced from 6.25% to 1.25%. Items with a lower sales tax will include traditional supplies such as markers and pencils, notebooks and folders and other classroom items, as well as many clothing purchases.

“Parents will keep more of their hard-earned dollars while students will get what they need to start the school year off right,” Gov. JB Pritzker said.

Clothing items, including shoes, that cost less than $125 will qualify for a lower sales tax rate, while there will be no price limit on school supplies. All purchases will still be subject to local sales taxes, however. The program costs the state $10 million, a minimal amount of the $55.9 billion budget.

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