To get ready for the coming school year, as well as prepare for a possible hurricane, Virginia will hold its three-day sales tax holiday beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday. This is the 13th consecutive year for the sales tax holiday, which is held during the first full weekend in August.

During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star and WaterSense products without paying the 5.3 percent sales tax. Eligible items include:

School supplies, clothing, and footwear 

—Qualified school supplies: $20 or less per item.

—Qualified clothing and footwear: $100 or less per item.

Hurricane and emergency 

preparedness products 

—Portable generators: $1,000 or less per item.

—Gas-powered chainsaws: $350 or less per item.

—Chainsaw accessories: $60 or less per item.

Other specified hurricane preparedness items: $60 or less per item.

Energy Star and ...