Dear Friends,

I would like to remind you of a sales tax holiday which begins on Saturday, May 25, 2013 and runs through Friday, May 31, 2013.

This sales tax holiday offers you a chance to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season while getting a break on the sales tax.  During this holiday, certain items including; batteries, flashlights, bottled water, and first aid kits will be exempt.  In addition, certain bigger-ticket items are also exempt, e.g., generators priced at $1,000 or less.

Virginia also has two additional sales tax holidays – one for school supplies and clothing in August, and one for Energy Star and WaterSense products in October.  I will be sure to notify you of those sales tax holidays as they approach.

To view a full list of the items that are included in the sales tax holiday, answers to frequently asked questions and guidelines for consumers and retailers, click “Sales Tax Holiday”

Several prominent independent weather organizations have already predicted that the 2013 Hurricane Season is going to be busier than normal. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has provided you this LINK to their website so you can stay up to date on weather developments in our area.

While this is Hurricane Preparedness Week, the unfortunate and tragic events in Oklahoma demonstrate that severe weather can hit anywhere. These past several years here in the Commonwealth we have witnessed earthquakes, tornados, blizzards, floods and hurricanes that have caused extensive damage. Please take advantage of this sales tax holiday and be prepared for all emergencies.

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