Tax-Free Weekend Offers Small Boost

Tick-tock, let’s go shop.

The annual back-to-school tax-free holiday begins today, a chance for shoppers to skip the 5 percent sales tax in Virginia and 7 percent sales tax in Tennessee.

Now through Sunday, in Virginia, shoppers are exempt from sales taxes on school supplies up to $20 per item and clothes and shoes priced up to $100.

There’s a specific, 42-item list of tax free items that includes the obvious (binders, sketch pads, pencils) and the less so (choir robes, ear muffs, diapers). Read the details at http://www.tax.virginia.gov/.

In Tennessee, the items are clothing and school supplies costing $100 or less each, and computers that are $1,500 or less. For details, see http://www.tn.gov/revenue/salestaxholiday.

This is the fourth year Virginia has had a back-to-school tax-free holiday. Tennessee adopted its tax-free holiday in 2006.

So, make your list and get moving. It isn’t a huge break, but if you have children, you’ve got to buy supplies. Take advantage of a little savings now. And retailers will be thrilled to see you.

Yes, Virginia and Tennessee are hurting right now, but don’t worry about the tax man. Politicians know most of us procrastinate and will have to buy things after the tax-free weekend is a distant memory.