Virginia School Shopping Tax Holiday Returns This Weekend

Fairfax County Public Schools students still have a month until they return to the classroom, but the time to get ready may be this weekend.

Virginia will hold its annual back-to-school sales tax holiday Friday, Aug.1 through Sunday, Aug. 3.

During the three-day event, most school and office supplies that cost $20 or less each, as well as clothing items and pairs of shoes priced at $100 or less, will be exempt from Virginia’s 5.3 percent state and local sales tax.  You will save even more in Fairfax County, where the sales tax is 6 percent. 

Here is what is on the list of tax-exempt items:  pens, pencils, loose leaf ruled notebook paper, scissors, binders, backpacks, construction paper, sneakers, hats, shirts, dresses, jeans, bathing suits, lunch boxes, diapers, T-shirts, choir outfits and uniforms. For a more complete list, visit the Virginia Department of Taxation’s website.

There is no requirement that the purchases be made for school purpose.  All retailers who sell the exempt items are required to participate. Online purchases of qualifying items are also tax-exempt during the sales tax holiday.

“This is an event that benefits both consumers and businesses in Virginia,” Gov. Terry McAuliffe said in a statement.  “Many families will be sending more than one child off to school soon, and this gives them an opportunity to save money on purchases that are necessary to get them ready for class.”

Photo of backpack courtesy of Target