Disappointment for parents in Illinois: No tax exemption for school supply purchases even in 2025.

As the return to school approaches, many parents in the United States are planning to buy school supplies, clothing, and footwear.

In some states, this also means significant savings thanks to the so-called sales tax holiday—a period when certain purchases are exempt from state sales tax. However, Illinois residents will not have that privilege this year either.

The last time Illinois approved a tax exemption for school supplies purchases was in 2022, when the tax was temporarily reduced from 6.25% to 1.25%. Although during the spring session of the state legislature Senator Christopher Belt tried to launch an initiative through Senate Bill 1673, the bill did not pass the Revenue Committee and was ultimately referred back to the Assignments Committee – meaning that 2025 will pass without tax relief for parents and students in Illinois.

Neither neighboring states offer much more: Indiana and Wisconsin have not announced a tax holiday, while Iowa provides a tax exemption on clothing and footwear in early August, and Missouri offers similar relief ahead of the start of the school year.

The tax on school supplies is being eliminated or reduced in states such as Florida, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Alabama, Connecticut, Arkansas, and others, while Texas additionally provides tax relief for summer disaster preparations.

For now, parents in Illinois will have to rely on traditional discounts in stores and retail chains.

SOURCE: NBC CHICAGO, PHOTO: PIXABAY