Sales Tax Holiday

"What" you say "A Sales Tax HOLIDAY, you must be kidding?" No I'm not. That's right a Sales Tax holiday..... Last year I found out that - usually during August - there is a week set aside for people to school shop TAX FREE. Of course there are rules such as the individual item must not cost over $100 etc. But all in all a good deal considering how much you spend on school supplies every little bit helps.

Then recently I discovered that now; atleast in Virginia (following legislation enacted by the 2007 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, Virginia now has three annual sales tax holidays) and Florida, they are having a Hurricane Preparedness Tax Free Day as well. This "Hurricane Preparedness Tax Holiday" allows you to buy certain items tax free during a certain week. Here in Virginia it is May 25-May 31, 2008. http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=STHoliday.
Check out your local government site so you don't miss out on the tax free days.

For Virginia Residents:
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS SALES TAX HOLIDAY May 25-May 31, 2008

Sales Price of $60 or less
The following hurricane preparedness items may be purchased exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax during the "Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday," provided that such items have a selling price of $60 or less per item.
• Artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs and reusable ice
• Batteries (excluding automobile or boat batteries), including
o AAA cell
o AA cell
o C cell
o D cell
o 6 volt
o 9 volt
o Cell phone batteries
• Any portable self-powered light sources including
o Flashlights
o Lanterns
o Glow sticks
• Tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting
• Bungee cords, rope
• Ground anchor systems or tie down kits
• Ratchet straps
• Duct tape
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Smoke detectors
• Fire extinguishers
• Gas or diesel fuel tanks or containers
• Water storage containers
• Nonelectric food storage coolers
• Bottled water
• Manual can openers

• Portable self-powered radios (including self-powered radios with electrical power capability)
• Two-way radios
• Weather band radios and NOAA weather radios

• Storm shutter devices
• Cell phone chargers
• First Aid Kits

Sales Price of $1,000 or less
The following hurricane preparedness items may be purchased exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax during the "Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday," provided that such items have a selling price of $1000 or less per item.
• Portable generators and generator power cords
• Inverters and inverter power cables

The Virginia Department of Taxation’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Guidelines and Rules are available online at www.tax.virginia.gov/salestaxholiday.
For additional information on hurricane preparation, visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management website at www.vaemergency.com.