Many families will take advantage of Virginia's sales tax holiday to do their back-to-school shopping this weekend. But did you know you can also buy things like batteries, diapers and refrigerators sans tax?
Here's what to know before you shop, including what you can — and can't — get sans tax.
When is Virginia's sales tax holiday?
Virginia's sales tax holiday is back to its typical summertime slot after budget negotiations pushed it to October last year.
The three-day holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 2 to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday Aug. 4.
What items are tax-free during Virginia's sales tax holiday?
School supplies, clothing and shoes:
- qualifying school supplies - $20 or less per item
- clothing and shoes - $100 or less per item
Shoppers might not realize they can save on much more than shirts, pants and sneakers. Some of the quirkier clothing items included in Virginia's policy: choir and alter clothing, costumes, girdles, lab coats, lingerie and steel toed shoes. You might be hard-pressed to find a wedding dress under $100, but that also qualifies.
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It's also a great time to stock up on disposable diapers as those are also included in the clothing category.
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
Some hurricane preparedness items include ice packs, batteries, flashlights, two-way radios, smoke detectors, bottled water, manual can openers and phone chargers.
Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products:
- qualifying Energy Star™ or WaterSense™ products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use - $2,500 or less per item
Air conditioners, ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, washing machines, dishwashers, light bulbs and refrigerators with the Energy Star™ label qualify, as well as bathroom sink faucets, faucet accessories, showerheads, toilets, urinals and landscape irrigation controllers with the WaterSense™ label.
What's not included in the Virginia sales tax holiday?
Clothing accessory items including, but not limited to:
- briefcases
- cosmetics
- fabric, thread, buttons, and yarn used to make clothing
- hair notions, including, but not limited to, barrettes, hair bows and hair nets
- handbags
- handkerchiefs
- jewelry
- sun glasses
- umbrellas
- wallets
- watches
- wigs and hair pieces
Protective equipment including, but not limited to:
- breathing masks
- clean room apparel and equipment
- ear and hearing protectors
- face shields
- hard hats
- helmets
- paint or dust respirators
- protective gloves
- safety belts
- safety glasses and goggles
- tool belts
- welders gloves and masks
Sport and recreational equipment included, but not limited to:
- ballet and tap shoes
- bowling shoes
- cleated or spiked athletic shoes
- gloves, including, but not limited to, baseball, bowling, boxing, hockey and golf
- goggles
- hand and elbow guards
- life preservers and vests
- mouth guards
- roller and ice skates
- shin guards
- shoulder pads
- ski boots
- waders
- wetsuits and fins
For more information on the sales tax holiday visit tax.virginia.gov.
