Energize your fall sales—Participate in the Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday

All Retailers may participate by absorbing the tax on non-exempt items.  Retailers may choose to make their entire inventory tax free to the customer (retailer remits the tax as usual) or may select one category of inventory to be tax free. (Examples: a jewelry store could run only diamonds as tax free for the four day period, or a clothing store could only run winter coats tax free.) As the retailer, you are absorbing the tax for the customer and can choose how you wish to extend the promotion. Advertise your TAX FREE SHOPPING weekend in a way that works best for you.

Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday, October 9-10-11-12
Energy Star qualified products with a sales price of $2,500 or less per product purchased for non-commercial home or personal use are exempt from Virginia Sales Tax October 9th–12th, 2009.

The 2008 General Assembly passed legislation that added water-efficient products to the products exempt from taxes during the Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday. During this period, purchases of certain Energy Star and WaterSense qualified products purchased for non- commercial use and costing $2,500 or less will be exempt from sales tax. The exempt Energy Star items include dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, air conditioners, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and programmable thermostats that carry the Energy Star designation. The exempt WaterSense items include bathroom sink faucets, faucet accessories, and toilets. Retailers may also choose to absorb the tax on other items during the holiday period, but they are responsible for paying the tax on those items to the Department of Taxation.

The RMA successfully had the language from the original Sales Tax Holiday included in this legislation, so during the October event any retailer—jewelry, furniture, clothing, etc. can participate in the Energy Star Tax Holiday if they absorb (pay) the tax for the consumer.