Virginia’s sales tax holiday runs Friday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 9. The tax-free window starts at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Most people think of this weekend as a back-to-school event. But it covers a lot more than notebooks and sneakers. For three days, Virginia also waives sales tax on hurricane and emergency preparedness items. That means Fairfax County residents can restock their emergency kits, replace old batteries and pick up a generator without paying the extra tax on top.

For a county that deals with hurricanes, ice storms, flash floods and stretches of extreme heat, this is a good weekend to fill the gaps in your emergency supplies before the next event hits.

What the Tax Holiday Covers

The Virginia Department of Taxation splits the holiday into three categories:

• School supplies and clothing
• Hurricane and emergency preparedness items
• Energy Star or WaterSense products.

This article focuses on hurricane and emergency preparedness items, since that is what matters most for emergency planning.

The exemption is automatic. You do not need a coupon or a form. Retailers registered to collect Virginia sales tax will not charge tax on qualifying items during the holiday, whether you shop in a store or online.

Emergency Prep Items $60 or Less

These smaller items make up the bulk of a good emergency kit, and they are all tax free if priced at $60 or less per item:

• Flashlights, lanterns, and glow sticks
• Batteries, including AAA, AA, C, D, 6-volt, 9-volt, and cell phone batteries
• Portable, battery-powered radios and weather band or NOAA weather radios
• Two-way radios
• Artificial ice, blue ice, and reusable ice packs
• Tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, and other waterproof coverings
• Bungee cords, rope, and paracord
• Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
• Ratchet straps
• Duct tape
• Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors
• Fire extinguishers
• Gas or diesel fuel containers
• Water storage containers and bottled water
• Nonelectric food storage coolers
• Manual can openers
• Storm shutter devices
• Cellphone chargers
• First aid kits

If your kit is missing any of these, this is the weekend to fill it in without paying tax on top of the purchase price.

Bigger Ticket Items: Generators and Chainsaws

The holiday also covers higher priced gear that matters most when the power goes out or storm cleanup starts.

Portable generators, generator power cords, inverters, and inverter power cables are tax free at $1,000 or less per item. A generator is one of the biggest investments a household can make in emergency readiness, since it keeps the refrigerator running, powers medical equipment, and gives you light and communication during an extended outage. Buying one during the holiday weekend can save real money on a purchase this size.

Gas-powered chainsaws are tax free at $350 or less per item. After a bad storm, downed trees and limbs are one of the first problems residents face. A working chainsaw makes it much easier to clear a driveway or remove a tree off a fence line.

Chainsaw accessories are tax free at $60 or less per item, including chains, bars, chain sharpeners and files, two-cycle motor oil, wrenches, carrying cases, and safety gear like chaps, gloves, hearing protection, and safety glasses.

Why This Matters for Fairfax County Residents

Fairfax County sees its share of severe weather. Summer brings heat waves and strong thunderstorms that can knock out power for days. Hurricane season runs through November and can bring heavy rain and wind this far inland. Winter storms can down trees and lines across the county.

Having the right gear on hand before an event, rather than scrambling to find it during one, makes a real difference.

This tax holiday gives you a built-in reason to check your supplies now, while stores are stocked and before the next storm watch goes up. A few smart purchases this weekend, a couple of flashlights, fresh batteries, a weather radio, maybe a generator, can make the next outage a lot easier to handle.

Quick Tips for Shopping the Holiday

• Check your current supplies first, so you know what you actually need
• Buy fresh batteries even if your old ones still work, since stored batteries lose power over time
• If you are shopping online, make sure the order is placed and paid for during the holiday window
• Remember the price caps apply per item, not per order, so you can buy several qualifying items in one transaction
• Keep your receipt in case you need to return or exchange anything

Where to Find the Full List

The Virginia Department of Taxation publishes the complete list of qualifying hurricane and emergency preparedness items, along with the full sales tax holiday rules, on its website. Check there for any updates before you shop.

• Virginia Sales Tax Holiday overview
• Full list of qualifying hurricane preparedness items (PDF)

Take advantage of the tax break, but do not wait until the last minute. Store shelves tend to empty out fast once a storm is actually in the forecast. Shopping now, while things are calm, is the smart way to get ready.