Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jul 16
Eight US States Offer Tax-Free Apple Shopping With Price Caps From $60 to $2,500
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jul 16

Eight US States Offer Tax-Free Apple Shopping With Price Caps From $60 to $2,500

3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jul 16

Summary

  • July 17 to Aug. 9 tax-free windows in eight states will let some shoppers avoid sales tax on Apple gear, but eligibility varies sharply by state, product and price cap.
  • Arkansas offers the broadest break—covering all Macs, iPads, iPhones and even Vision Pro on Aug. 1-2—while Virginia limits the exemption to phone chargers and batteries priced at $60 or less.
  • Several states impose tighter thresholds: Alabama caps qualifying computer purchases at $1,173, Missouri at $1,500, New Mexico at $1,000 for computers and $500 for accessories, and West Virginia only covers iPads at $500 or less.
  • Massachusetts applies its Aug. 8-9 holiday to any single item priced at $2,500 or less, allowing multiple tax-free purchases even if the total bill exceeds that amount.
  • The limited holidays arrive as Apple device prices have risen 15% to 25% in the past month, making the back-to-school tax breaks one of the few near-term ways to cut costs.

Insights

As the AI boom drives up Apple's prices, can tax-free holidays truly make the latest technology affordable?
Are sales tax holidays a genuine relief for shoppers or a politically popular subsidy for retailers and tech giants?