For the second successive year, government is granting Barbadians a Christmas ease with a VAT-free shopping day in the week before Christmas.

Starcom Network News has confirmed that government has approved Wednesday of this week as a value-added tax holiday.

A similar initiative was implemented in the days leading up to Christmas last year with a VAT rate of zero percent ascribed to a list of goods.

Alcohol and Tobacco will be excluded from the VAT-free day.

The official announcement from government is expected to be made later today.