CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WTVR) -- Virginia stores are supposed to be giving shoppers a tax break this week on items to get ready for hurhurricane season, but it turns out not all local stores are following the rules.
You are supposed to be able to buy items like batteries, bottled water, first aid kits and generators without paying the 5 percent sales tax.
The Kmart on Hydraulic Road in Charlottesville was caught charging sales tax to a customer buying bottled water and batteries. However, similar stores, like Lowe's and Walmart, did not charge sales tax on similar items.
Officials at the Virginia Department of Taxation were surprised such a large store wasn't cutting customers a break.
"Obviously they're not quite on the program at Kmart," said spokesman Joel Davidson. "Usually we're not running into this at the larger stores. We will be contacting this store."
Gerri Clark, the manager at the Kmart, apologized for charging sales tax -- and promised refund it. However, she could not explain why the registers were charging customers when they weren't supposed to be.
If you do buy supplies before the sales tax holiday ends on Thursday, be sure to check your receipt before leaving the store to make sure you were not charged sales tax.
