Montana Joins Delaware, Oregon, Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire and Others in Boosting Tourism With Tax-Free Shopping and Unique Benefits: All You Need To Know

Published on December 20, 2025

Montana joins Delaware, Oregon, Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, and others in boosting tourism with tax-free shopping and unique tax benefits. These incentives attract shoppers and enhance the travel experience by offering significant savings on a variety of goods. While Montana implements a “Resort Tax” in certain popular destinations, states like Delaware and Oregon stand out with no state or local sales tax, making them ideal for tax-free purchases. Florida and New Hampshire further sweeten the deal with their special “Tax-Free Weekends.” This growing trend of tax-free shopping not only drives tourism but also provides visitors with a more rewarding and budget-friendly shopping experience.

Montana: Watch for “Resort Taxes”

Montana offers a rare mix of tax-free shopping and targeted taxes in certain areas. While the state does not impose a general sales tax, popular tourist destinations in places like Big Sky, Whitefish, and Gardiner have a “Resort Tax.” This 3% tax is applied to high-end goods such as luxury clothing, restaurant meals, and recreational services like ski lift tickets. For shoppers looking to buy luxury items tax-free, it’s best to shop in non-resort towns like Billings or Missoula, where no additional local taxes apply.

Delaware: The “Pure” Tax-Free State

Delaware stands out as a tax-free shopping haven due to its 0% statewide and local sales tax, making it a prime destination for savvy shoppers. While the state doesn’t impose any sales tax, businesses in Delaware are subject to a Gross Receipts Tax. This tax is not visible to customers at the register but could slightly influence pricing. Despite this, Delaware remains a top choice for purchasing high-end electronics, jewelry, and designer items. With no sales tax at the register, Delaware is the ideal location for those looking to make luxury purchases without paying extra tax.

Oregon: No Hidden Surprises

Oregon offers a unique advantage to shoppers by maintaining a straightforward and transparent pricing structure, as there are no state or local sales taxes. This means the price on the tag is the exact amount you pay at checkout. The state also prohibits local municipalities from adding their own sales taxes. While there is a small Statewide Transit Tax (0.1%) on wages, this does not affect tourists. Additionally, taxes are already built into tobacco and alcohol prices, but everything else is tax-free, ensuring a simple and predictable shopping experience.

Alaska: The “Patchwork” State

Alaska offers no state sales tax, making it appealing for tax-free shopping. However, being a “Home Rule” state, it allows local municipalities to impose their own taxes. Cities like Anchorage charge no local tax, making it an ideal shopping destination. On the other hand, cities such as Juneau and Fairbanks charge around 5%, and some remote towns can have taxes as high as 7.5%. Cruise travelers should also note that shopping in port towns like Skagway and Ketchikan will incur local municipal taxes. For the best tax-free experience, Anchorage is the ideal spot for shopping.

New Hampshire: The “9% Rule”

New Hampshire offers a tax-free shopping experience on most goods, such as clothing, outdoor gear, and electronics. There is no state sales tax, making it an excellent place for buying tax-free items like winter gear or liquor. However, the state does impose a Meals and Rooms Tax of 8.5% (expected to rise to 9% in 2026), which applies to hotel stays and restaurant meals. This means that while you can buy goods without any sales tax, dining out or staying in a hotel will still carry an additional tax burden.

Bonus: 2025 “Tax-Free Weekends”

Many states offer Sales Tax Holidays, giving shoppers the opportunity to buy items tax-free during designated periods. In Florida, the entire month of August is tax-free for clothing under $100 and computers under $1,500. Texas offers a tax-free weekend in August for clothing and footwear under $100, while Ohio allows tax-free shopping on nearly all items under $500. If you’re not visiting a NOMAD state, these tax-free weekends can still help you save on various items like clothing, electronics, and more.

Montana joins Delaware, Oregon, Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, and others in boosting tourism with tax-free shopping and unique tax benefits. These incentives attract shoppers and enhance the travel experience.

Conclusion

Montana’s inclusion alongside Delaware, Oregon, Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, and other states in offering tax-free shopping and unique tax benefits further enhances the tourism appeal of these destinations. These states have cleverly utilized tax incentives to attract visitors, encouraging them to explore and shop without the burden of high sales taxes. Whether through specific resort taxes, state sales tax holidays, or no state sales tax at all, these benefits create a more enticing environment for tourists, making them more likely to visit and spend. By embracing these strategies, these states are not only boosting tourism but also offering a more rewarding shopping experience for travelers.