Shoppers, stores prepare for WV's sales tax holiday ahead of back-to-school season

The West Virginia Tax Division has an online guide detailing what items qualify, but in short, it includes most clothing, sports equipment, school supplies and laptops that are under $500.

Linda Nevi of Coal Ridge, Kanawha County, has been helping with back-to-school shopping for her granddaughter, who is entering middle school this year. They usually start at Target and sometimes go to Staples for school supplies. So far, the process has gone smoothly.

“Honestly, no problems really. Few things they didn't have her size, but there's always been a good selection, so she's managed to find plenty,� Nevi said.

She is a retired schoolteacher, and the family will occasionally buy items during the tax-free period, but timing is more important. It worked out best for them to shop earlier this month.

Erin Watts, the store manager at JCPenney at the Huntington Mall in Barboursville, said West Virginia's tax-free weekend is their second-busiest sales event of the year, with the first being Black Friday.

“We want to make sure all of our fall goods are out to the floor. Anything that can be sold is out to the floor," Watts said. "We have all of our people here to work to make sure everyone gets waited on."

Watts said they also have special sales during the tax-free weekend.

She said the store will offer a mystery sale where each customer receives a peel-and-reveal coupon when they come in that can get them between 30% to 50% off their purchase, in addition to the tax-free savings.

“Our biggest sales comes from the kids' department, for sure. We sell a lot of book bags, denim and shoes during that time. Athletic shoes are really big during the back-to-school tax-free event,� Watts said. “We really are like a one-stop shop for customers because their whole family comes and shops with us.�

The JCPenney salon is also running a promotion for $12 haircuts available to anyone through September. The Huntington Mall is getting in on the excitement as well, hosting a Back-to-School Fair and Fashion Event presented by Wellpoint and Marshall Health Network from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Center Court.

Ashley Bowe of Cross Lanes is the mother of two teenagers. Her family picked out items ahead of time that they plan to buy during the tax-free period. They shop in combination of stores and online.

“If I find something on sale prior to tax-free weekend, I might just go ahead and buy it because I don't want to not be available if that's what they want. I don't want it to sell out beforehand or something, but otherwise, if it's school supplies or something like that, then yeah, definitely I would wait for tax-free weekend,� Bowe said.

In addition to school supplies and clothing, Bowe said is looking for a laptop for her oldest child who might be taking a few college classes online this semester.

“I would say it's probably a little bit more expensive just with everything that's gone up, so if I can save money anywhere, even if it's just a little bit of tax money, I'm gonna try to do that,� she said.

What qualifies for the tax holiday?

Shoppers can purchase qualifying items from West Virginia retailers without paying sales tax, as long as each item meets the specific price thresholds. There’s no cap on the total transaction amount, but each item must be under its respective price limit. Items purchased for commercial or business use are not eligible.

The exemption applies to in-store and online purchases, as long as the order is placed, paid for and shipped within the holiday window. Both state and local sales taxes are waived for qualifying items.

Here’s a breakdown of qualifying categories and item limits:

Clothing (up to $125/item):

• Shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, coats
• Suits, uniforms, rainwear, shoes (including steel-toed)
• Undergarments, hats, socks, diapers (adult and child)

School supplies (up to $50/item):

• Notebooks, folders, binders
• Pens, pencils, markers, crayons
• Glue, paste, scissors, calculators
• Backpacks, lunch boxes, rulers, paper
• Instructional materials (up to $20/item)
• Workbooks, textbooks, reference books, maps, globes

Laptops/tablets (up to $500/item):

• Must be for personal or school use only

Sports equipment (up to $150/item):

• General-use physical education and recreational gear

Items not included

• Jewelry, cosmetics, handbags, umbrellas
• Protective gear (e.g., helmets, goggles)
• Sports-specific gear (e.g., cleats, tap shoes)
• Trade/costume supplies, business-use items

Key rules to know

• Coupons and discounts: Store coupons can bring the price under the exemption limit. Manufacturer coupons do not.
• Buy one, get one free: Tax is based on the price per item — not the average.
• Layaway and online orders: Orders qualify if placed and paid for during the holiday.
• Returns and exchanges: Exchanges for size or color after the holiday are still tax-free.
• Rebates: Do not count toward the price cap.

For more information, including the full list of qualifying items and FAQs, visit the West Virginia Tax Division’s Sales Tax Holiday page at bit.ly/2026_WV_TaxHoliday.