Virginia Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

Hurricane season is just around the corner and the State of Virginia wants to help you prepare.  There will be a sales tax holiday later this month.  Lots of "everyday" items will be sales tax free!

Forecasters expect an above-average hurricane season for 2010, with 15 named storms and at least eight expected to be hurricanes and four major hurricanes (categories 3-4-5). 

The probability of a U.S. major hurricane landfall is estimated to be 130 percent of the long range average.  For specific information about the forecasts, click here:  

History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster.

Hurricane Preparedness Week during 2010 will be held May 23rd through May 29th. The goal of this Hurricane Preparedness Web site is to inform the public about the hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be used to take ACTION. This information can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water. For more information, please click here.

Virginia Tax Holiday

The hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday is a recurring event, beginning each year on May 25 at 12:01 a.m. and ending at 11:59 p.m. on May 31. During the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday period, consumers may purchase certain items in preparation for hurricanes and other emergencies exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax.

The exempt items include: 1) portable generators used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage; and 2) certain other hurricane preparedness equipment.  Included are batteries, self-powered light sources like flashlights or lanterns, radios such as weather radios to track NOAA forecasts, tarpaulins, first aid kits, etc.   For a list of items qualifying for the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, please click here.

The sales tax exemption applies to only those portable generators with a selling price of $1,000 or less per item, and each article of other hurricane preparedness equipment, as set forth above, with a selling price of $60 or less. Dealers are also permitted to absorb the sales and use tax on all other items sold during the same time period, thereby relieving purchasers of the obligation to pay the tax.

Frequently asked questions are listed here.

Other Source are here.

In addition to the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, there will be other VA Sales Tax Holidays this summer/fall.  They are August 6-8 for school supplies and clothing, and October 8-11 for Energy Star and Water Sense Qualified products.

• More Articles