By The Woodbridge Gazette Staff

Virginia's sales tax holiday returns this weekend, running from 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. For three days, shoppers across the state — including right here in Prince William County — can buy a wide range of school supplies, clothing, and other qualifying items without paying sales tax, whether they're shopping online, in-store, or by phone.

The timing couldn't be better for local families: Prince William County Public Schools students head back to class Aug. 24, and back-to-school costs are up this year. An analysis from the Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation found the cost of common school supplies like scissors, pencils, and binders has climbed an average of 7.7% — with lunch boxes, notebooks, and index cards seeing the steepest increases.

What Qualifies

●       School supplies — $20 or less per item (binders, backpacks, pens, pencils, crayons, glue, calculators, and more)

●       Clothing and footwear — $100 or less per item (everyday wear; athletic gear and accessories generally don't qualify)

●       Hurricane and emergency preparedness items — generators up to $1,000, chainsaws up to $350, most other supplies $60 or less per item

●       Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ home products — $2,500 or less per item, for noncommercial home or personal use

Depending on the local sales tax rate, shoppers can expect to save roughly 5.3% to 7% off qualifying purchases — not a fortune per item, but it adds up fast on a full cart of school supplies and new clothes. Nationally, families spend an average of $293 on electronics, $250 on clothing, $174 on shoes, and $146 on school supplies to get kids ready for the new year, according to the National Retail Federation.

Where to Shop

Since this is a statewide holiday, the exemption applies anywhere in Virginia — shoppers aren't limited to Prince William County. Locally, Woodbridge is home to Potomac Mills, one of the largest outlet shopping destinations in the region, making it a natural stop for tax-free deals on clothing and footwear this weekend. Families can also check qualifying items at retailers throughout Manassas, Dale City, and Lake Ridge, or shop online from home and still get the exemption applied at checkout.

All retailers are required to participate, and the exemption applies automatically at checkout for qualifying items — no coupon or paperwork needed. Full item lists and details are available at tax.virginia.gov.