Virginia tax-free weekend returns for certain goods

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia's sales tax-free holiday is back and running until Sunday. evening, and the Department of Taxation said Virginians can save between 5.3% and 7% on qualifying buys.

Only school supplies, clothes, shoes and some hardware and energy items are free of sales tax.

What's considered qualifying school supplies $20 or less per item and clothes and shoes $100 or less per item -- tax exempt. Plenty of hurricane and emergency preparedness products are also tax-free until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3, including portable generators under $1,000, gas-powered chainsaws $350 or less and other miscellaneous preparedness goods under $60.

Finally, qualifying Energy Star and WaterSense-branded items for noncommercial or personal use are tax free. The state taxation department offers some examples like washing machines, dishwasher, toilets, refrigerators and showerheads, but they all have to be under $2,500 to be tax exempt.

Virginia sales tax is taken off each item whether these products are shopped in store or online.

For more information, visit the Department of Taxation's website.