It’s sales-tax holiday weekend for back-to-school, emergency prep shoppers

The sales tax in Virginia ranges from 5.3 percent in most areas all the way to the low sevens in our major metro areas.

They’re waving it this weekend, for people doing back-to-school shopping, and also, for the doomsday preppers among us.

It’s sales tax holiday weekend — running Friday through Sunday.

Meaning, you can buy school supplies — including notebooks, bookbags, pens, and pencils — clothing, and footwear without paying sales tax.

• Qualified school supplies: $20 or less per item
• Qualified clothing and footwear: $100 or less per item

Suggestion: laptops aren’t included, for some reason?

We’re however long we are into the digital era.

Purchases of emergency preparedness products, as well as energy and water efficient products, will also be exempt from sales tax this weekend.

Hurricane and emergency preparedness products:

• Portable generators: $1,000 or less per item
• Gas-powered chainsaws: $350 or less per item
• Chainsaw accessories: $60 or less per item
• Other specified hurricane preparedness items: $60 or less per item

Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products:

• Qualifying Energy Star™ or WaterSense™ products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use: $2,500 or less per item

A short video about qualifying items and more information for retailers can be found on Virginia Tax’s website.