Virginia residents will have to say goodbye to a beloved annual tradition as sales tax holiday weekends become a thing of the past starting this year. Whether you were a fan of the savings or found the crowds overwhelming, the tax-free weekends have been a familiar event for shoppers in the state.
Since 2015, these weekends have been held on the first Friday in August, combining three different sales tax holidays into one three-day event. During this time, certain items were exempt from Virginia’s 5.3% statewide sales tax rate. The exemption applied to specific categories such as hurricane preparedness items, clothing and school supplies, Energy Star items, and WaterSense items.
So, why is Virginia bidding farewell to the sales tax holiday? According to the Virginia Tax webpage, the reason is simply that a provision in a bill was not renewed. Section 3-5.25 of the 2022 Appropriation Act states that the authorized retail sales and use tax exemption holidays specified in the Code of Virginia “shall remain in effect through July 1, 2023,” thereby indicating the end of the tax holiday.
As of July 1, Virginia residents will no longer have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the sales tax holiday weekends. It marks the end of an era that provided shoppers with temporary relief from the burden of sales tax on certain items.