May 25-31 Sales Tax Holiday-Hurricane Preparedness
May 23, 2011
May 25-31: Virginia's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday!
Virginia has already experienced some severe weather this year, and now hurricane season is about to begin on June 1.
To help citizens make sure they are prepared for any emergency, certain items will be sold tax-free next week beginning May 25, including batteries, bottled water, flashlights, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and many other qualifying items costing $60 or less, as well as generators costing $1000 or less. The sales tax holiday ends May 31. To see the complete list of what will be exempt from the usual 5% state and local sales tax, please visit our Sales Tax Holiday Information Center at tax.virginia.gov.
Governor Bob McDonnell had this to say about the holiday in a statement released today:
"Our hearts go out to those who were affected by April's storms. Now, as we prepare for hurricane season, we hope that the opportunity created by the General Assembly to buy storm-related items tax-free next week will serve as an impetus for citizens of the Commonwealth to make sure they are prepared for the months ahead."
During this seven-day period, retailers must participate in the holiday if they sell qualifying items, and they may also choose to pay the sales tax themselves on any nonexempt items and pass the five percent savings onto their customers.
