(AUSTIN) — Shoppers will save more than ever before during the annual sales tax holiday — which now includes more than two dozen school supply items in addition to clothing and backpacks.  Families will save an estimated $65.7 million in state and local sales taxes, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said today.

The annual sales tax holiday weekend is coming up Aug. 21–23.  State law designates the weekend of the third Friday in August for the sales tax holiday.

“Most families are on tight budgets and it can be a real challenge to buy kids the clothes and supplies they need for a new school year,” Combs said.  “To help out, the Legislature has added many school supplies to the list of tax-free items during the sales tax holiday.  The tax break on school supplies alone will save families nearly $9 million in state and local sales taxes this year.”

The sales tax holiday covers school supplies, school backpacks and most children’s and adults’ clothing and shoes priced less than $100.  Lists of tax-free clothing and school supplies can be found at www.txtaxholiday.org

The annual August tax-free shopping spree has saved shoppers around $442 million since it began in 1999.