During the current economic recession, the cost of sending children back to school is a challenge for many families. For the fourth year, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the state's retailers are helping citizens save n back-to-school expenses .

The holiday will begin Friday, August 7th and go through Sunday, August 9th. During the three-day period, many school supplies costing $20.00 or less each and clothing items and footwear costing $100.00 or less each will be exempt from Virginia's 5% sales tax. Tax exempt items include pencils, pens, binders, paints, notebooks, musical instruments and calculators as well as clothing.