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Certain back-to-school items to be exempt from sales tax

CHARLESTON, WV — Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday that West Virginians in need of materials for the upcoming school year will be able to save money this weekend during the state’s back-to-school Sales Tax Holiday.

During the holiday, certain back-to-school items are exempt from sales tax, such as clothing, school supplies, school instructional materials, laptops and tablets, and sports equipment.

The Sales Tax Holiday will begin at midnight on Friday, July 30, and will continue through Monday, Aug. 2, at 11:59 p.m.

Justice said the cost per student of going back to school for supplies and clothing “was a big number, big number.”

“At least we’re trying to reach out and help a little bit,” Justice said in announcing the temporary sales tax exemption.

The average customer will save at least 6 percent on every qualified purchase and up to 7 percent if they purchase the item in a municipality that has imposed a local sales tax.

This will be the state’s first back-to-school Sales Tax Holiday since 2004.

“The opportunity to bring that back for 2021 on the heels of a pandemic. All of the challenges that our school system, students, parents, and businesses have gone through over the last 18 months. I think this will be an opportunity for families to save a little bit as they get ready to send their children back to school,” said Jill Parsons, president and CEO of The Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

During the Sales Tax Holiday, qualifying items can be purchased tax-free online or by telephone, mail, custom order, or any other means (including in-store purchases) when either:

∫ The item is both delivered to, and paid for by, the customer during the exemption period; or

∫ The customer orders and pays for the item, and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period ends.

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