July 29, 2009
JOEL DAVISON
Public Relations Manager
(804) 786-3507
joel.davison@tax.virginia.gov
Virginia’s Fourth Annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday Coming Up
~ Get ready to shop and save! ~
More than ever, the cost of sending children back to school is likely hanging over the heads of many families this year, even for frugal families who clip coupons, scour sale circulars and shop around.
For the fourth year, the Commonwealth, along with Virginia’s retailers, again stands ready to help its citizens save a little more.
Virginia’s back to school sales tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 7 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009.
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 on the Tax Department’s Sales Tax Holiday Information Center at www.tax.virginia.gov.
This sales tax holiday is for all taxpayers in Virginia, not just for those with children heading back to school, so now’s a good time to stock up on office supplies or clothing for adults as well. There is no limit on the number of items you can buy as long as each one qualifies under the holiday’s guidelines.
During this sales tax holiday, retailers may also choose to save taxpayers even more by opting to pay the sales tax themselves on items that are not eligible for exemption.
“The citizens of the Commonwealth are savvy, and they know that the August sales tax holiday is a great way to put a little more back in the family budget,” said Tax Commissioner Janie Bowen. “This has been a popular sales tax holiday every year since it was implemented, and I have no doubt even more thrifty families will be out there this year taking advantage of this opportunity to stretch their dollars a little further.”
It is estimated that Virginia taxpayers will save $4 million in sales tax this year.
