South Carolina’s Tax-Free Weekend: How Families Can Maximize Discounts & Deals for Back-to-School Shopping

August 8, 2026

10:44 AM

By Lee Cox, Bank of America Charleston

For many families, back-to-school shopping comes at a moment when budgets are already stretched. Fortunately, a few upcoming savings opportunities can help ease that pressure.

South Carolina offers families a break with its Tax Free Weekend, August 7-9, 2026, meaning no sales tax on school essentials like:

Clothing and certain clothing accessories (excluding rentals)
Footwear (excluding rentals)
School supplies
Computers, printers and printer supplies and computer software (excludes items used for commercial purposes)
Certain bed and bath items

BofA cardholders also get access to 15,000+ additional local and national deals and discounts – yet another way to make the most of the season.

Between the tax-free windows, seasonal sales and ever-growing supply lists, there’s a lot to navigate. Here are three helpful tips to take advantage of meaningful savings before the first day of school.

Tips to Shop Smarter this Back-to-School Season:

Build a tiered shopping list. Set a spending limit and determine what absolute essentials you should buy first and what you can hold off on to buy a little later down the road. A tiered list can help stagger your purchases over a longer period of time, breaking down back-to-school shopping into manageable phases and preventing overspending.
Shop on state tax holidays. Take advantage of South Carolina’s Tax Free Weekend, where clothing, electronics and school supplies are exempt from sales tax. This tax holiday can be the perfect opportunity to save money this weekend, August 7-9.
- Pro tip: To save more, Bank of America credit and debit cardholders have access to Deals for both local and national retailers like Levi’s, Finish Line, Kohl’s, Skechers, Dick’s, Universal Standard, and Macy’s. Clients can simply log in through their Bank of America mobile banking app or online, and scroll down to find their Deals.
Stack your rewards. Combining coupons, using a cash back credit card and enrolling in a rewards program can help you save more and lower the cost of your final receipt:
- Compare prices and look for discounts. Start by utilizing price-tracking tools to compare prices to find the best deals out there. Additionally, many retailers offer special student discounts on everything from tech to clothing. Ask in-store or check the retailer’s website for student deals and consider signing up for platforms like UNiDAYS or Student Beans to unlock extra offers. Don’t forget to check with your bank. Bank of America cardholders have access to thousands of local Deals at retailers in their area that can maximize savings even further.
- Choose a flexible credit card. When you make a purchase, use a credit card that aligns with your spending needs, like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards® card. Cardholders can earn 3% cash back in a category of their choice each month, including online shopping – making it a smart option for back-to-school season. Even better, new cardholders can earn a 6% cash back bonus offer in their choice category during the first year from account opening. Cash rewards can then be redeemed as statement credits or deposited directly into a Bank of America checking or savings account to help offset costs throughout the year.
- Amplify your rewards. Boost the cash back you earn with the BofA Rewards® program. As a member, you’ll earn an additional 10% to 75% credit card rewards bonus on every purchase. This means the 3% you earn while online shopping for back-to-school supplies could become even more – rewarding you for your entire banking relationship. The program is free to join for clients with a Bank of America checking account.