West Virginia State Sales Tax Holiday quickly approaching

CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia State Sales Tax Holiday is quickly approaching.

The sales tax holiday is an annual event that begins each year on the Friday before the first Sunday in August and continues through the following Monday.

The dates for this year’s holiday will be from Friday, August 2, to Monday, August 5.

During this period, shoppers can purchase specific items without having to pay the usual sales tax, offering significant savings right before the back-to-school season.

A variety of items qualify for the sales tax holiday, making it an opportune time for families to stock up on essentials.

Exempt items include certain clothing priced at $125 or less, specific laptop and tablet computers priced at $500 or less, and school instructional materials priced at $20 or less.

Additionally, school supplies priced at $50 or less and sports equipment priced at $150 or less are also tax-free during the holiday.

It’s important to note that items purchased for use in a trade or business do not qualify for the exemption.

Shoppers can make multiple purchases in a single transaction, with the qualification determined by each individual item’s price.

Clothing items that qualify encompass a wide range of apparel such as aprons, athletic supporters, bathing suits, coats, dresses, gloves, hats, pants, shoes, and uniforms, among many others.

However, some items are not eligible for the tax exemption, including belt buckles sold separately, clothing accessories, costume masks, protective equipment, and sports or recreational equipment.

The $125 exemption applies only to items selling for $125 or less. If an item costs more than this amount, tax is due on the entire price.

Retailers are also prohibited from splitting items normally sold together to make them fall below the threshold for tax exemption.

School supplies that qualify for the exemption include items such as binders, book bags, calculators, crayons, notebooks, pencils, and rulers.

Meanwhile, school instructional materials that are exempt include reference books, reference maps and globes, textbooks, and workbooks.

For consumers, it’s crucial to understand that the sales tax holiday does not apply to items purchased for business use.

If such items are purchased without the collection of sales tax, the consumer must report and pay the tax separately.

Special deals like “buy one, get one free” must be handled carefully. The total price cannot be averaged to qualify for the exemption. Instead, the actual price paid for each item determines its eligibility.

For those making purchases through mail, telephone, email, or internet orders, the timing of the order and payment is key.

Orders must be placed and paid for during the exemption period for immediate shipment to qualify.

Retailers are required to comply with the sales tax holiday by law and cannot opt out.

They must also handle any refunds or exchanges according to specific guidelines to ensure that the correct tax is applied.

More information can be found here .