WASHINGTON — While shoppers in D.C. face another year without savings from sales tax exemptions, consumers in Maryland and Virginia can look forward to upcoming sales tax holidays.
From Friday, Aug. 4 to Sunday, Aug. 6, certain items will be exempt from Virginia’s 5.3 percent sales tax. Qualifying goods include school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane preparedness supplies, and Energy Star and WaterSense products.
Maryland’s sales tax holiday will be held for an entire week from Sunday, Aug. 13 to Saturday, Aug. 19. Clothing, footwear and certain school supplies will be exempt from the state’s 6 percent sales tax. Maryland held its energy tax free weekend earlier this year from Feb.18 to Feb. 20.
Click through the gallery below for items you can purchase tax-free during the sales tax holiday.
School supplies. Items considered “school supplies” include binders, calculators, dictionaries, crayons, folders, highlighters, legal pads, markers, notebooks and pencils. In Virginia, such items with a price of $20 or less are eligible for sales tax exemption. (Thinkstock)
\n","caption":"School supplies.\u00a0Items considered “school supplies” include binders, calculators, dictionaries, crayons, folders, highlighters, legal pads, markers, notebooks and pencils. In Virginia, such items with a price of $20 or less are eligible for sales tax exemption. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Musical instruments, musical instrument accessories, replacement parts. Musical instruments also fall under the “school supplies” category. Though it might be difficult to find an instrument that costs less than $20, instrument replacement parts or musical instrument accessories also qualify for sales tax exemption, as long as the item costs $20 or less.\u00a0(AP Photo\/Martha Irvine)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Sheet music.\u00a0Sheet music is included in the “school supplies” category. Items do not need to be used in school or in connection with a school activity to be eligible for the sales tax exemption. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Art supplies. Paint brushes, paints, sketch and drawing pads also count as school supplies. As long as each item is $20 or less, it’s sales-tax free in Virginia during the holiday. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Reference maps and globes. Now is your chance to get that map, globe or reference book you’ve always wanted but never had occasion to purchase. Considered “school supplies” in Virginia, these items under $20 are eligible for sales tax exemption\u00a0from Friday, Aug. 4 to Sunday, Aug. 6. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Backpacks, book bags.\u00a0In Virginia, backpacks fall under the “school supplies” category and are exempt from sales tax during the holiday as long as the price is $20 or less. In Maryland, the first $40 of a backpack or book bag purchase is tax exempt during the tax free holiday week. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Clothing and accessories.\u00a0In both Maryland and Virginia, clothing and accessories priced $100 or less qualify for sales tax exemption. If you’re looking to update your wardrobe or simply need accessories such as an apron, coveralls, girdle or lab coat, you can make use of this deal from Friday, Aug. 4 to Sunday, Aug. 6 in Virginia, or between Sunday, Aug. 13 to Saturday, Aug. 19 in Maryland. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Costumes. As long as the costumes aren’t rentals and cost under $100, you won’t be taxed on your early Halloween purchases from Friday, Aug. 4 to Sunday, Aug. 6 in Virginia, or between Sunday, Aug. 13 to Saturday, Aug. 19 in Maryland. (Nicole Wilder\/ABC via AP)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Uniforms.\u00a0While “clothing” doesn’t include sporting equipment, the sales tax holiday does exempt uniforms, caps, hats and other sports attire from the sales tax.\u00a0(AP Photo\/Julio Cortez)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Ineligible clothing accessory\u00a0items include makeup, items used to make clothing, wigs, briefcases, bags and jewelry. Accessories are not included in the list of tax exempt items for the sales tax holiday.\u00a0(Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Ineligible sport equipment that does not fall under the “clothing” category include items worn for sporting activities. These include sports shoes such as ballet shoes or cleats, goggles, elbow guards, shoulder pads, wetsuits, waders and life preservers. In addition, protective equipment such as helmets, tool belts, safety belts, protective gloves and hard hats are ineligible for the sales tax deduction. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Portable generators\u00a0with a price of $1,000 or less per item are exempt from the tax in Virginia during the sales tax holiday weekend. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Gas-powered chainsaw\u00a0with a price of $350 or less per item will not be taxed in Virginia during the sales tax holiday, and \u00a0chainsaw accessories with a price of $60 or less per item will not be taxed. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Other\u00a0specified hurricane preparedness supplies\u00a0priced $60 or less will not be taxed during the sales tax holiday in Virginia. These include supplies such as bottled water and batteries, but also include items you might need in case of a storm such as first aid kits, manual can openers and flashlights. Find the full list on the Virginia.gov website.\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Energy Star products for noncommercial home use priced $2,500 or less are exempt from the tax. Items include ceiling fans, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, washing machines, dishwashers, light bulbs and refrigerators. (Thinkstock)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" WaterSense products for noncommercial home or personal use priced $2,500 or less are exempt from the tax. Qualifying items include bathroom sink faucets, faucet accessories, shower heads, toilets, urinals and landscape irrigation controllers. (AP Photo\/Verena Dobnik)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Find more information on Virginia’s sales tax holiday. Find more information on Maryland’s tax-free week. The post Sales tax holidays for DC, Maryland, Virginia appeared first on WTOP.
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\n","caption":"Eligible tax-free items in Virginia
Eligible tax-free items in Maryland
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