Every year the Commonwealth of Virginia declares a tax-free holiday on school supplies and clothing the first weekend of August. This year, the holiday falls on August 1 through 3.
During those days, purchases of qualifying school supplies costing $20 or less, or qualifying clothes and footwear costing $100 or less, will be exempt from state sales tax. Retailers may also choose to absorb the tax on other items, lowering the total price passed on to consumers.
According to the Virginia Department of Taxation, the list includes many items that may also qualify as office supplies, making it a perfect time to not only buy items the children need for school, but items that adult students or professionals may also require.
A few examples of tax exempt items include binders, book bags, composition books, erasers, markers, notebooks, even legal pads and index cards. Art supplies such as paintbrushes and sketchbooks are also tax-exempt this weekend as are musical instruments and their accessories. Unfortunately computers and other technological items more advanced than a calculator are not tax exempt during this tax holiday.
However the tax exempt list for clothing is pretty extensive. It even includes bathing suits, pajamas, earmuffs and hosiery. The one subcategory it does not include are sports uniforms and most sporting goods. Again, these items are not only for children, and it applies to all shoppers, not only Virginia residents.
So, although many people do not yet want to think past Labor Day, which heralds the end of summer, it is a good time to get a head-start on back-to-school shopping.
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