I've been covering back to school sales for 18 years, so you can consider me your back to school shopping assistant. I've vetted the best deals at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy to bring you the best sales on the items the Tom's Guide staff have tested and reviewed.

Sales tax holiday to help back to school shoppers

Instead of a midyear January and August tax break on school supplies of about two weeks apiece, state legislators signed off on one full month to run for all of August. The school sales tax holiday is now designed to be an annual August event.