Illinois cuts its State sales tax rate to 1.25% for the 7–16 August 2026 back-to-school holiday
This page records one dated change. For the rules in United States as they stand today, see the United States guide →
- Jurisdiction
- 🇺🇸 United States (Illinois)
- Tax
- Sales Tax
- Change type
- Rate change
- Status
- In force
- Impact
- Action required
- Effective
- 7 August 2026
- Instrument
- US-IL-BULLETIN-FY2026-30
- Authority
- Illinois Department of Revenue
- Systems
- POS, E-commerce, Tax engine
- Verified
- Fetched from official source · high confidence
Retailers and marketplaces selling qualifying clothing, footwear (under USD 125 per item) and school supplies into Illinois.
Retailers selling into Illinois must apply the reduced 1.25% State rate to qualifying clothing, footwear under USD 125 per item and school supplies for 7-16 August 2026, then revert to 6.25%.
POSE-commerceTax engine
The Illinois Department of Revenue's Informational Bulletin FY 2026-30 sets the 2026 back-to-school State sales tax holiday for 7 August through 16 August 2026. During the holiday the State's portion of sales tax on qualifying clothing and footwear priced under USD 125 per item and on school supplies is reduced from 6.25% to 1.25%.
What changed in detail
Illinois Department of Revenue Informational Bulletin FY 2026-30 sets the state’s 2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday for 7 through 16 August 2026. During the holiday, the State’s portion of sales tax on qualifying clothing and footwear priced under USD 125 per item, and on school supplies, is reduced from 6.25% to 1.25%. The USD 125 per-item cap applies to clothing and footwear only — qualifying school supplies carry no price cap. The rate reverts to 6.25% once the holiday ends on 16 August 2026.
What it means
This is a temporary, dated rate change, not a permanent cut. Retailers and marketplaces selling into Illinois need to apply 1.25% for exactly this ten-day window and revert immediately after — the holiday is live right now. It runs alongside, but is distinct from, Illinois’ own NITA rate change and Ohio’s separately dated sales tax holiday; keep the three apart when configuring rate tables.
Proof
The State's portion of sales tax due throughout the holiday is reduced by 5 percent (5.00%) from 6.25 percent (6.25%) to 1.25 percent (1.25%).
Source snapshot of the official page. Open full size ↗Archived from the official distribution · Illinois DOR Informational Bulletin FY 2026-30 · tax.illinois.gov