Virginia’s sales tax holiday is this weekend. Here are the products that qualify.
A row of backpacks at a Virginia school. (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
Virginia’s sales and use tax holiday for school supplies, clothing and energy-efficient goods begins on Friday, Aug. 2 at 12:01 a.m. and runs through Sunday, Aug. 4 at 11:59 p.m.
During this year’s session, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation increasing the minimum amount of revenue a nonprofit organization must generate to trigger a financial audit by the Department of Taxation before the organization can receive a sales and use tax exemption during the holiday to $2 million, up from $1 million.
Typically, consumers pay a 4.3% state tax on qualifying products, whether they purchase them in-store or online. During the holiday, the state tax or any additional local or regional sales tax on select weekend purchases will be waived.
A recent National Retail Federation survey found that families with children in elementary, middle and high school plan to spend about $875 on back-to-school supplies, $15 less than last year’s record of $890.07. Nationally, school supplies spending is expected to top out around $39 billion.
The Virginia Department of Taxation provides lists of specific items that qualify as sales tax-free during the holiday. Here are the main items that are exempt:
School supplies, clothing, and footwear:
Qualified school supplies — $20 or less per item
Qualified clothing and footwear — $100 or less per item
Hurricane and emergency preparedness products:
Portable generators — $1,000 or less per item
Gas-powered chainsaws — $350 or less per item
Chainsaw accessories — $60 or less per item
Other specified hurricane preparedness items — $60 or less per item
Energy Star and WaterSense products:
Qualifying Energy Star or WaterSense products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use — $2,500 or less per item
