School supplies and clothes, tax-free this weekend in Virginia

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Friday marks the start of the sales tax holiday.

Until August 7, items such as school supplies and clothing will be tax-free.

Some stores are even offering additional sales.

Back-to-School aisles are packed with people looking to take advantage of this tax break.

Store management at Target said they are expecting hundreds, more than usual, during the course of the weekend.

"We got pretty much half of what's on this long list," said Erika Willie, who was buying school supplies on Friday.

Almost every parent shopping has a list.

"Sometimes we get these pretty pencils right here. They're colorful. Everything 'in' is in colorful," said Naomi Stotts, another mother also taking advantage of the tax-free holiday.

Like others, Stotts is trying to shop early for her two children in hopes of beating the back-to-school crowds. Slowly she's checking items off her list.

With only about four days for students in Montgomery County and three weeks until many others to go back to school, parents are using this tax-free weekend to get ready.

"We just got back from vacation, so yeah we need to focus on this now," said Willie.

"It helps me a lot because I get to save a lot of money on this tax-free," said Stotts. "It brings a big smile on their face when you bring home pencils, papers, book bags."

All school supply items $20 or less are tax-free, for clothing, items less $100.

"But then, you go to different stores so you add them all up. It saves me a few hundred dollars and that's a lot," said Willie.

WSLS 10 is helping area students get ready for the upcoming school year with the 10 Cares McDonald's Back to School Supplies Drive.