Virginia Tax Free Weekend: What to Buy Other Than Pencils And Pens

Virginians hoping to save a buck or two might want to plan their back to school shopping to coincide with Virginia�s Tax Free Weekend, set for August 6 through 8. Aside from the normal fare of pencils, pens and paper, there are some other items that will be tax free during that time period.

Musical Instruments/accessories: Do you need to buy a replacement guitar string? Virginia�s list of eligible items includes musical instruments, musical instrument accessories and replacement items for musical instruments. A call to a local music store in Frederickburg, Virginia, Robertson�s Music, yielded several tax free purchase ideas.

Since the musical instrument or accessory must be under $20 to be eligible for tax free status, you obviously cannot buy a trumpet tax free. However, items to consider include: A recorder, a kazoo, guitar strings, oil, grease, reeds for woodwind instruments, books, and print music. So if a recorder is on your child�s back-to-school list for Music Class, you can likely find one at a local music store this weekend tax free.

Baby Layette Items: Are you pregnant or know of someone who is? Baby items such as receiving blankets, bibs and clothing are all covered under Virginia�s tax free weekend. Consider this weekend a great opportunity to purchase baby layette items for your needs now, if you have a little one, or for future needs for baby shower gifts. Even baby diapers are included in the Virginia�s tax free weekend eligible list. If you are buying diapers for a baby shower, past experience for me has been that my children spent the most time in size 3 and size 4 diapers. Avoid buying newborn diapers, unless specifically asked by the mother-to-be to do so.

Rain coats: Provided that the rain coat costs $100 or less, it will be sales tax free in Virginia August 6-8. Expect to pay $50-$100 for a nice, fashionable rain coat, which means buying it during the tax holiday means you save between $2.50 and $5.00 on the purchase. Shop at Burlington Coat Factory for a nice selection at moderate prices.

Sources:

Virginia's Tax Free Eligible List