Virginia tax free weekend 2021: What school supplies are eligible and what others are not?

It feels like the school year just ended, but as officials address COVID-19 surges, parents are getting ready for back-to-school shopping.

To help with costs, a sales-tax holiday on certain school supplies kicks off Friday. During the tax holiday, shoppers can buy qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products without paying sales tax, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Purchases of qualifying items will be exempt from Virginia's 4.3 percent state sales tax, the 1 percent local option tax, and any otherwise applicable regional taxes.

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Here's what you need to know about the sales-tax holiday:

When is the sales-tax holiday?

In Virginia, the holiday is Aug. 6-8, starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ending at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

What school supplies can you buy to save on sale taxes?

School supplies that cost $20 or less qualify to save on sale taxes. This means computers and similar items such as tablets are not exempt of the tax.

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Can you buy school supplies online?

Items purchased online, by mail order, or by telephone are treated as exempt if:

1. The item is both delivered to and paid for by the customer during the exemption period; or
2. The customer orders and pays for the item and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period.

What clothing and accessories are not included?

Clothing and footwear that cost more than $100 per item are not included in the sales-tax holiday.

Does the tax exemption apply to sports equipment?

The exemption does not include sporting equipment or footwear, such as cleats, designed primarily for athletic activity.

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What other items are eligible?

In Virginia, the sales-tax holiday also applies to hurricane and emergency preparedness products including generators $1,000 or less, gas-powered chainsaws $350 or less, chainsaw accessories $60 or less and other specified hurricane preparedness items as long as they are $60 or less.

Qualifying Energy Star™ or WaterSense™ products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use at $2,500 or less per item are also eligible.

What if you exchange an item that was purchased during the holiday?

If a customer purchases a qualifying item during the exemption period, but later exchanges the item for a similar qualifying item, even if a different size, different color, or other feature, no additional tax is due.

Have more questions?

If you have questions about exemptions or specific items, visit https://www.tax.virginia.gov/virginia-sales-tax-holiday.

See the full list of eligible items here.