Beckley, WV (WOAY) From July 31st to August 3rd, West Virginia shoppers will get a break from the state’s 6% sales tax on select back-to-school items, including clothing and footwear. Governor Patrick Morrissey held a press conference in Greenbrier County this Wednesday to announce the tax-free holiday.
“For this four-day period, thanks to something the legislature passed a while ago, you don’t have to pay the sales tax on those school items,” said Morrissey. “For every $100 spent, that’s $6 in savings. That’s real. That’s meaningful.”
Morrissey said that West Virginians saved $3.5 million during last year’s tax-free holiday. That 6% can add up very quickly for many back-to-school shoppers.
“We always get new shoes, new backpacks and supplies for school,” listed Karen Bennett, a Beckley mother of three. “We’ll be buying soccer cleats and basketball shoes and running shoes and all the things that go with sports.”
Bennett shared what the break will mean for her family this back-to-school shopping season:
“It means a break: exactly that. The tax break means that I get to buy the things that we need to buy that we would buy anyway with a little less coming out of our pockets, which means that I can then use that for my kids later and the other things that they need…”
The tax holiday gives a little welcome relief from rising prices across the board.
“I certainly notice it every time I go to pay the bill, that things are a little higher… But I know as a teacher in Raleigh County Schools that a lot of my families of my students feel that in a much more difficult way than I do.”
Morrisey said the holiday is one of many efforts to make life in West Virginia more affordable, and he hopes this year’s holiday will give even more savings than last:
“Make sure you act fast. It’s July 31st, August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. And you want to make sure that you’re able to avail yourself of these great discounts. And I’m asking every vendor: if you have a chance to do some additional discounts for our citizens, that would be terrific.”
For a list of items eligible for the tax break, visit tax.wv.gov.
