BY ANITA STIEFEL
MANAGING EDITOR
CHAMBERS COUNTY — It’s time to save money on essentials during Alabama’s 20th annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 18, and runs through midnight on Sunday, July 20.
During this three-day period, certain school supplies, computers, books and clothing will be exempt from Alabama’s 4% state sales tax. In addition, the cities of LaFayette, Lanett and Valley are waiving local sales taxes, providing families with even more savings.
“This tax holiday makes a real difference for Alabama families and our retailers alike,” said Rick Brown, president of the Alabama Retail Association, in a press release. “It not only lowers the cost of essential school items for parents but also drives valuable sales for local stores which strengthens our economy.”
“The sales tax holiday has become very important to us over the years,” added Michael Gee, business owner and chairman of the Alabama Retail Association. “Parents have become accustomed to the sales tax holiday, and they look forward to it every year. It’s a great way for families to save money and get what they need for back to school.”
The sales tax holiday targets back-to-school shoppers, but any consumer can take advantage of the savings. Some items, such as diapers, printer ink, flash drives and art supplies, are state and local sales tax-free during the weekend, giving everyone a reason for everyone to shop.
Items exempt from sales tax this weekend include:
- Clothing suitable for general use costing less than $100 per article, including belts, boots, caps, coats, diapers, dresses, gloves, gym suits, hats, hosiery, jackets, jeans, neckties, pajamas, pants, raincoats, robes, sandals, scarves, school uniforms, shirts, shoes, shorts, socks, sneakers and underwear.
Note: Clothing items NOT exempt include hair accessories, handbags, protective gear and sports/recreational items. - Computers in a single purchase with a sales price of $750 or less, including laptops or desktop or tower systems bundled with monitors, keyboard, mouse and speakers, computer software and school computer supplies such as storage media, printers, printer paper and ink.
Note: Computer items NOT exempt include furniture and any software or peripherals intended primarily for gaming. - School supplies commonly used by a student in a course of study ($50 or less per item), including art supplies, binders, book bags, calculators, crayons, folders, glue and paste, highlighters, markers, notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, rulers, scissors and writing tablets. Also exempt are textbooks on an official school book list with a sales price of more than $30 but less than $50 and books with a sales price of $30 or less per book.
For more information about Alabama’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, visit www.revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/sales-tax-holidays.
