7 Odd Items Included in Tax-Free Weekend

by Thompson Wall

Virginia’s Back to School Tax Holiday weekend is fast approaching in what retailers say is the busiest shopping weekend of the year outside of Black Friday.

Every year around this time, shoppers scramble to purchase tax-free notebooks, protractors, pens and paper – but did you know the exemption applies to far more than just school supplies?

The list of tax-exempt items includes such oddities as:

•Athletic supporters

•Choir and altar clothing

•Fur coats, stoles, shawls and wraps

•Garters, garter belts and lingerie

•Galoshes

•Wedding apparel, including veils (sold, not rented)

•Wigs and hair pieces

For three days beginning Friday, Aug. 1, purchases of 122 school supplies, clothes and shoes will be exempt from the Virginia’s 5.3 percent state and local sales tax. Savings will be higher in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads where the sales tax is 6 percent.

Each eligible school supply item must be priced at $20 or less, and each eligible article of clothing and footwear must be priced at $100 or less. Shoppers can also make tax-free purchases online during the sales tax holiday.

See a complete list of exempt items at the Virginia Department of Taxation’s website.