Virginia Exempts Hurricane-Preparedness Items from Sales Tax

If you’re planning on preparing for a hurricane, this is the week to do it.

Virginia’s sales tax holiday on hurricane preparedness items runs from Monday through Sunday. Throughout the week, 22 items that can be helpful in a storm — including batteries, flashlights, bottled water and generators — are exempt from the 5 percent state and local sales tax.

A complete list of tax-exempt products can be found at the state Tax Department’s Web site. The items must cost $1,000 or less.

Since 2003, Virginia has had 49 fatalities and suffered more than $2 billion in damage from hurricanes and tropical storms.

During the sales tax holiday retailers can choose to exempt other items from sales tax.