Virginia Now has 3 sales tax holidays. VRMA can provide you with all you need to know on all three!
The Virginia Department of Taxation states a Sales Tax Holiday is a temporary period when certain purchases are exempt from the sales tax. In 2006, the General Assembly approved Virginia's first Sales Tax Holiday, to take place each year on the first full weekend in August. Now, Virginia has three sales tax holidays for different purposes. VRMA worked with the tax department and many of our members to develop understandable and fair guidelines. We influenced many changes to these guidelines. VRMA is here to work for you. BE A PART OF IT!
Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday – May 25-31, 2008
New, passed last year and begins this year.
Exempts from sales tax those items that help prepare for hurricanes.
Examples include portable generators up to $1000, other items up to $60 – such as blue ice, cell phone batteries, cell phone chargers, food storage coolers, carbon monoxide detectors, fuel tanks, portable self-powered light sources, portable radios, two-way radios, weather band radios, storm shutter devices, batteries, tie-down kits, tarpaulins, and ground anchor systems.
Absorption language is a part of this holiday as well.
Guidelines will be developed later. Visit our website for more information.
Back-to-School Holiday - August 1-3, 2008
Second year.
Please review the guidelines for clarification information from the tax department on our website at www.virginiaretail.org.
An absorption tax bulletin has been issued. This is a new bulletin that I highly recommend for review, so that you may stay in compliance with the law. It also is posted on our website.
Energy Star Sales Tax holiday – October 10-13, 2008
Second year.
Includes Energy Star-qualified appliances up to $2500.
Examples include dishwashers, washer, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, programmable thermostats designated as an Energy Star product.
Absorption language is a part of this holiday as well
We are working with the tax department in development of the guidelines. Visit our website regularly for updated information.
Strength Comes From Unity - Protection Comes From VRMA
Retailers must realize that the battle against threatening legislation and taxes will become more difficult in years to come. The retail industry must maintain its unity and strength at the grassroots level to wage those battles successfully. Our strength lies in our members being a unified front with a well heard voice.
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association was ranked 18th for most effective lobbies out of hundreds of lobbying groups. This ranking is based on a study published in January 2001 by the Virginia Business Magazine, who polled the Virginia State Legislators.
Our Mission…
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association, a trade association
that represents retailers and other businesses, is organized to
educate, inform, and serve as a resource for our members. The VRMA
supports reasonable and proper laws protecting the interests of
our members. Special emphasis is directed towards fostering understanding
of retailing, free trade, and free enterprise systems.
About Us
The VRMA was formed in 1905 for the purpose of improving the retail
business climate in Virginia. No merchant is too big or too small
for membership. Our members come from across the commonwealth of
Virginia and are as diverse as the products they sell ~ convenience,
department, drug, grocery, hardware, apparel, building supply, automobile,
sports ~ are all examples of the variety of stores that compose
our membership. The VRMA is financed by dues paid directly by our
members. Dues to the VRMA are nearly 90% tax deductible as a necessary
business expense.
The VRMA shares much in common with local merchants associations
and chambers of commerce. But, there is on important difference
- while these local organizations focus on issues and events at
the local level, the VRMA is able to focus its work on the state
and national levels. In this way, we are able to compliment the
work of local groups and provide a full range of service to those
members who join both the VRMA and the local retail merchants association
in their area.
Location
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association's offices are strategically
located near Capital Square, so that our staff can interact daily
with legislators.
Retailers must realize that the battle against threatening legislation and taxes will become more difficult in years to come. The retail industry must maintain its unity and strength at the grassroots level to wage those battles successfully. Our strength lies in our members being a unified front with a well heard voice.
Our Mission… 