Sales Tax Holiday Begins Friday for EnergyStar, WaterSense Products

Purchase new or used qualifying products in stores or online between Friday and Monday.

Virginia is hosting its annual sales tax holiday for Energy Star and WaterSense products such as dishwashers and sink faucets Friday through Monday. Consumers can purchase a variety of environmentally friendly products during the four-day event and not pay the 5 percent state and local sales tax on those items. The products must cost $2,500 or less each and be purchased for noncommercial or personal use.  Online purchases of qualifying Energy Star and WaterSense products also will be exempt from the sales tax as long as the orders are placed during the exemption period and the sellers have the items available for immediate shipment. “Purchasing energy-efficient appliances and other products is a smart move and this sales tax holiday adds …

• Photos (1)

Village Sprouts

One Love

Donating supplies teaches kids a valuable lesson and keeps a local legacy alive.

Summer is in its final stretch. Whether school has just started or you’re savoring these precious final weeks of vacation, there is something special about the countdown to fall and the back-to-school vibe. That vibe makes August a perfect month for setting the tone for the upcoming academic year.  As a kid, I remember juggling the nerves and excitement of the approaching new school year. My favorite part was school-supply shopping for the perfect backpack, lunch box and Trapper Keeper.  Why not turn your school supply shopping in to a teaching experience?  Take advantage of this weekend’s back-to-school sales tax holiday and have your child pick out a few extra supplies to donate.   The Lenny Harris Legacy Corporation will be collecting …

• Photos (1)

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday Set for August

Most school supplies and some clothing items and footwear will be exempt from Virginia's sales tax during the event.

Virginia is hosting its annual back-to-school sales tax holiday in August. During the event, which begins Aug. 3 and runs through Aug. 5, most school supplies with a pricetag of $20 or less and clothing items and footwear priced at $100 or less will be exempt from Virginia’s 5 percent state and local sales tax. An all-inclusive list of school supplies, a list of exempt clothing and footwear items, holiday guidelines for shoppers and retailers, and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the department’s Sales Tax Holiday Information Center. As long as each item purchased qualifies for the exemption, there is no limit on the number of items you can buy. During this sales tax holiday, retailers may also choose to save …

• Photos (1)

Shop Local: Tax-Exempt School Supplies

How to take advantage of this weekend's sales tax holiday without leaving the neighborhood.

There's no better time than this weekend to shop for back-to-school supplies and apparel, thanks to Virginia's sixth annual sales tax holiday. Friday through Sunday, items such as binders, pens, backpacks, art supplies and even musical instruments are tax-free as long as they cost no more than $20 apiece. Most clothing items and footwear are also exempt from the usual 5 percent sales tax, provided that each item is priced at $100 or less (a complete list of eligible items can be viewed at www.tax.virginia.gov). Even better news? You can do most of your shopping around the corner. From the useful to the unusual, here are a dozen back-to-school items that can be purchased in Del Ray or Old Town and fall under the tax exemption.

• Photos (12)