PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – This year’s Virginia sales tax holiday is here! From August 5-7, you can buy school supplies, clothing, shoes, hurricane supplies and Energy Star™/WaterSense™ products without paying sales tax.
“During a time of high inflation and gas prices, Virginians will receive some needed tax relief this weekend as they support local businesses across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“The sales tax holiday benefits both businesses and consumers,” said Secretary of Finance Steve Cummings. “And, with inflation at its highest level since 1981, Virginians need this tax relief now more than ever.”
When is it?
The 3-day sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 5 and ends Sunday, August 7, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.
This includes both in-store and online purchases.
Eligible items
- School supplies, clothing, and footwear
- Qualified school supplies – $20 or less per item
- Qualified clothing and footwear – $100 or less per item
- 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
- Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products
- Qualifying Energy Star™ or WaterSense™ products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use – $2,500 or less per item
Under current law, the sales and use tax rate is generally 5.3%, comprised of a 4.3% state tax and a 1% local option tax, with an additional regional tax of 0.7% in the Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia regions. There’s a 1% regional tax in the Historic Triangle region (James City County, York County, and the City of Williamsburg) on top of the 0.7% regional tax.
Look up the rate for a specific region, here.
During the sales tax holiday, qualified items will be exempt from the 4.3% state sales tax, the 1% local option tax, and any applicable regional taxes.
The three sales tax holidays used to be separate, but were combined into one event in 2015. It’s always held the first Friday in August.
See the full guidelines for the combined sales tax holiday and a complete list of qualifying items, at this link.