Jul 29

Tax Free Weekend Virginia

VA_Sales_Tax_Holiday_Weekend_August
Coming up this weekend, Fri. Aug. 1 – Sun. Aug. 3, is the state of Virginia’s annual Tax Free Shopping weekend on select school supplies and clothing.

Savvy shoppers know that this annual sales tax holiday can be a great time to buy clothes and back-to-school supplies. Be sure to take advantage of great deals, store promotions, clearance items, as well as items you normally pay full price on, during the tax-free weekend.

Virginia’s annual Tax-Free weekends are a great way to easily save money. Here in Virginia we have 3 different tax holidays: Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness, School Supplies and Clothes, and Energy Star and WaterSense Qualified Products.

The School Supplies & Clothing Tax Free Holiday always draws in a lot of shoppers, so expect crowds! Qualifying purchases during this weekend will be exempt from the normal VA state and local taxes, typically 5% of the purchase price. The VA tax holiday has taken place the first full weekend in August since 2006. Qualifying items include: School supplies $20 or less per item, Clothing $100 or less per item. Some items that might surprise you, that will be tax-free here in Virginia include:

  • Diapers
  • Baby Bibs & Receiving Blankets
  • Aprons
  • Costumes
  • Bathing Suits
  • Uniforms
  • Lab Coats
  • Religious Clothing & Clerical Vestments
  • Formalwear for Men & Women
  • Wedding apparel, including veils

Items NOT included in the tax-free holiday include “school computer supply” items: computer, compact disks, handheld electronic schedulers, printers, printer paper, ink cartridges.

You can find a list of guidelines and participating items on the VA Department of Taxation’s website.

Other states that have sales tax holiday this weekend include: Alabama, Arkansas (only Aug. 2-3), Florida, Georgia (only Aug. 1-2), Iowa (only Aug. 1-2), Louisiana (only Aug. 1-2), Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee.
If you live in one of these states, be sure to check your state’s department of taxation website for more information, as the dates, maximum price per item, and guidelines vary quite a bit.

Mississippi already had their tax free shopping weekend July 25-26.

Coming up later in August the states of Connecticut, Maryland (August 10-16), and Texas have tax holidays as well.

On Wed. July 30th, I got to share some tax-free shopping tips on Let’s Talk Live in preparation for the tax-free holidays.

Do you like to shop during the tax free shopping holidays? Be sure to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on this annual tax holiday.