A few years ago, the state of Tennessee gave residents a three-month-long break from grocery taxes, and ever since, citizens have been wondering when another break could happen.
Every year, Tennessee and dozens of other states host a tax-free weekend ahead of the school year for residents to stock up on supplies for their children. Since 2023, there has been no such event for the state’s grocery tax, even though Tennessee is one of only eight states left that still tax groceries.
Discussions to remove the grocery tax have been ongoing in the state legislature for years, but ultimately nothing has been done to remove the tax. In Tennessee, there is a 4% state grocery tax, and local governments add an additional 2%- 2.75% sales tax.
Here’s what to know about Tennessee’s chance of a grocery tax holiday in 2026.
Will there be a grocery tax holiday in Tennessee for 2026?
House Bill 1486, sponsored by Rep. Michael Hale, attempted to institute a sales tax holiday on food and food ingredients from July 1 to Sept. 30. The tax exemption would only apply to purchases made by residents 65 and older.
However, the bill ultimately failed and was taken off notice on April 15.
When was the last grocery tax holiday in Tennessee?
The last time Tennessee hosted a grocery tax-free event was in 2023, when the event ran from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31. It was estimated that residents saved up to $288 million in taxes during the three-month event.
The event included a break from Tennessee’s 4% grocery tax on “food and food ingredients” that are “sold to be ingested or chewed by humans and are consumed for their taste or nutritional value.”
That included substances that are liquid, concentrated, solid, frozen, dried or dehydrated. Items not included were: alcoholic beverages, tobacco, candy and dietary supplements.
How many states tax groceries in 2026?
In the United States, there are eight states that have a tax on groceries.
Is there legislation to remove the grocery tax in Tennessee?
Over the past decade, there have been several attempts to eliminate the state’s grocery tax or reduce the percentage, and 2026 is no different.
This year, both Democrats and Republicans introduced bills to try to eliminate the tax, but neither passed before the state’s session ended in late April. Despite continued attempts in the state legislature, there has been no progress either to eliminate the state’s grocery tax or to provide residents with another grocery tax holiday.
How to save at the grocery store?
While there is no single definitive way to guarantee you’ll spend less at the grocery store, there are some tips and tricks that many money management organizations recommend.
Drop the name brands and shop the store’s brand instead to save a few dollars.
Join your local grocery store’s loyalty program if it has one, and earn points back for shopping.
Use the store’s loyalty program to clip coupons for in-store shopping.
Shop only what is on the grocery list, and leave behind the in-the-moment items.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: No TN grocery tax holiday in 2026: What shoppers need to know
Dining and Cooking