Take advantage of tax holiday

If you’re thinking about doing some back-to-school shopping, you should take advantage of Virginia’s summer tax holiday Aug. 7-9. During this three-day period, purchases of school supplies selling for $20 or less per item and certain types of clothing and footwear selling for $100 or less per item will be exempt from the state sales tax.

The Virginia Department of Taxation lists all the school supplies covered, such as dictionaries, index card boxes, and sheet music, as well as the more common items like pencils, paper, and lunch boxes.

The tax break for clothing can be used for just about anything considered appropriate for everyday wear. Sneakers and running shoes qualify but other sport or recreational equipment is excluded.

Online purchases are eligible for the tax break if they are ordered and paid for during the tax holiday and delivered during the tax holiday or accepted by the seller for immediate shipment.