Does Virginia have a tax-free weekend?
Quick answer
Yes. Virginia runs a sales tax holiday: Three-day holiday in August for school supplies, clothing, and emergency items. Qualifying purchases skip the full combined rate, which runs 6% in covered Virginia metros.
Holiday dates and qualifying item lists are set by statute and can change year to year. Virginia Department of Taxation publishes the official list before each holiday, including per-item price caps and whether local jurisdictions must participate.
Rule summary
How Virginia treats each category.
| Recurring holiday | Three-day holiday in August for school supplies, clothing, and emergency items. |
|---|---|
| Normal combined rate | 6% |
| Clothing exemption | None |
| Grocery exemption | Reduced rate (1% state) |
This page summarizes the general rule. Every state writes exceptions for specific products, and local jurisdictions can differ from the state treatment. Confirm your situation with the Virginia Department of Taxation or a tax professional before relying on it for filing.
Combined rates in Virginia
What a taxable purchase actually costs in Virginia.
Frequently asked
Answers pulled from the same rule set.
- Does Virginia have a tax-free weekend?
- Yes — Virginia runs a sales tax holiday: Three-day holiday in August for school supplies, clothing, and emergency items.
- Do local taxes still apply during a Virginia sales tax holiday?
- It depends on the statute. Some states require every local jurisdiction to participate; others let cities opt out and keep charging their local share. Virginia Department of Taxation publishes the participating jurisdictions each year.
More Virginia guides
Other Virginia rules that change the total.