Sales Tax Holidays in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia

Sales Tax Holidays offer shoppers savings for a limited period by exempting sales tax on certain purchases. Washington, DC, and Virginia offer a Sales Tax Holiday in August just in time for back-to-school shopping. Washington, DC also offers a second Sales Tax Holiday in November for holiday shopping. For 2008 Virginia offered a few specialized sales tax holidays. Here are dates and details about the special exemptions in the Washington area.

Washington, DC’s Sales Tax Holiday

August 2009 - Sales Tax Holiday repealed to avoid the loss of an estimated $640,000 in sales tax revenues in the current fiscal year.

November 27 - December 6, 2009

The DC Sales Tax Holiday saves shoppers 5.75 percent sales tax when purchasing clothes, accessories, shoes and school supplies. The sales tax exemption applies to each eligible item that costs $100 or less.

For more information, see the web site for the DC Office of Tax and Revenue

Maryland Sales Tax Holiday

The state of Maryland is NOT holding a sales tax holiday this year. The Maryland General Assembly did not pass legislation authorizing the program for 2009.

In prior years, the Maryland Sales Tax Holiday gave shoppers a 5 percent savings on qualifying clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less. Qualifying apparel included belts, coats, jackets, pants, shoes, socks and sweaters. The sales tax exemption applied to each eligible item, regardless of how many items you purchase at the same time.

For more information, visit the web site for the Comptroller of Maryland

Virginia Sales Tax Holiday

August 7-9, 2009

During the Virginia Sales Tax Holiday shoppers will save 5 percent on purchases of school supplies costing $20 or less per item, or clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less. The sales tax exemption applies to each eligible item, regardless of how many items you purchase at the same time.

For more information, visit the web site for the Virginia Department of Taxation

For suggestions of where to find the best back-to-school items, see the Back-to-School Shopping Guide for the Washington, DC Area