For one weekend in early August, the price on the tag is the price you pay. Virginia’s annual sales tax holiday runs Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9, 2026, giving Alexandria shoppers a three-day window to buy school supplies, clothes, emergency-preparedness gear and energy-efficient appliances without the state and local sales tax added at checkout.
The timing is deliberate. The holiday lands squarely in back-to-school season, just as Alexandria City Public Schools families start filling supply lists, and at the front end of peak Atlantic hurricane season, when emergency officials urge residents to stock up before a storm is ever on the forecast. In the Alexandria area, where the combined sales tax rate is 6 percent, the exemption trims real money off a full cart — $30 back on a $500 haul, and more for families outfitting multiple kids.
How it works
One detail worth knowing: the price caps below apply per item, not per transaction. A $95 jacket qualifies; a $120 coat is fully taxable, with no partial break on the first $100. But you can buy as many qualifying items as you like in a single trip and still skip the tax on each one.
What’s covered
The exemption falls into three buckets, each with its own price ceiling, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation:
School supplies, clothing and footwear
- Qualified school supplies — $20 or less per item
- Qualified clothing and footwear — $100 or less per item
The clothing category is broad, covering everyday apparel and shoes rather than just backpacks and binders — useful for families and non-students alike. The department publishes a full list of qualifying school supplies and clothing…