By all accounts from consumers and retailers, Virginia’s first Sales Tax Holiday was a big success. The “holiday” ran last weekend, Friday through Sunday. Shoppers in Virginia did not have to pay the 5-percent sales tax on school supplies priced at $20 or less per item, and on clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per article of clothing or pair of footwear. Additionally, retailers were permitted to voluntarily “absorb” the sales tax on other items, effectively giving shoppers a 5-percent discount on a wide range of goods purchases in Virginia stores.
“We saved about 20 dollars on school clothes for Caleb, which doesn’t sound like much, but to some families that will make a real difference,” said David. “This is a small measure of help to families struggling to make ends meet in our high cost of living area — and I was proud to support it in the General Assembly. Additionally, thanks to retailers voluntarily absorbing the sales tax on other items, last weekend’s ‘holiday’ gave shoppers from Maryland and D.C. a great incentive to spend their money in Virginia, which is always good for our local economy.”
The three-day “holiday” will take place each year beginning on the first Friday in August and ending at midnight on the following Sunday.