By Julia Hillegass
Public Information & Community Affairs Administrator
Virginia's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is just around the corner, offering consumers a tax break on natural disaster supplies. Starting on May 25, the holiday is designed to encourage Virginia residents to stock up on essentials for hurricane preparedness 
. A list of suggested items to have on hand in your preparedness kit can be found at: http://www.readyvirginia.gov/getakit/Kit.pdf 
. The tax holiday comes just in time for residents to prepare for hurricane season, which officially starts in Virginia on June 1st.
According to the Virginia Department of Taxation, 'Virginia's annual Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is May 25-31, 2011. 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 they 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 or less are also included.' The link above provides more information on the department's guidelines and a list of tax-exempt items.
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