Sales tax holiday set for Aug. 7-9

Virginia’s fourth annual back-to-school sales tax holiday will run Aug. 7-9.

During this three-day period, many school supplies costing $20 or less each and clothing items and footwear costing $100 or less each will be exempt from Virginia’s 5 percent sales tax. This includes items like pencils, pens, binders, paints, musical instruments and calculators, as well as pants, shirts, formal wear, shoes, flip-flops and even uniforms.

Lists of exempt items, along with guidelines for the sales tax holiday and a set of frequently asked questions, are available at www.tax.virginia.gov.

The sales tax holiday is for all taxpayers in Virginia, not just those with children heading back to school. There is no limit on the number of items you can buy as long as each one qualifies under the holiday’s guidelines.

During the sales tax holiday, retailers may also choose to pay the sales tax themselves on items that are not eligible for exemption.

It is estimated that Virginia taxpayers will save $4 million in sales tax this year.

— Daily Staff Report