The 2015 Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation that will combine the three tax-free shopping holidays into one. However that doesn’t begin until 2016. This year there will be two tax-free shopping events. The first tax-free shopping week will help with preparations for the start of Hurricane Season on June 1st.

This year’s first Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Equipment Sales Tax holiday is May 25-31. During this seven-day period, purchases of items designated by the Department of Taxation as hurricane and emergency preparedness equipment will be exempt from the Virginia sales tax.  As long as the items cost $60 or less each, items including batteries, flashlights, tarps, rope, duct tape, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, bottled water, first aid kits and many others, will be tax-free. Portable generators priced at $1,000 or less are also included. All retailers participate, according to Virginia law.
The complete list is similar to 2014 and can be found on the Virginia Department of Taxation’s website, go to: http://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/tax.virginia.gov/files/media/documents/2014%20qualifying%20items.pdf

Remember hurricane season starts June 1st.  Additional information about preparing for hurricane and flooding season is available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov  

The next tax-free shopping opportunity will be August 7-9, 2015 for not only Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Equipment, but also, School Supplies and Clothing as well as Energy Star and WaterSense Qualified Products.