By Emily Williams
Journal intern
Parents in Over the Mountain cities can make a dent in their back-to-school to-do lists during the state’s annual sales tax holiday, set for the first weekend in August.
Alabama will have its ninth annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday from 12:01 a.m. Aug. 1 through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 3.
During the weekend, shoppers can purchase school clothes and supplies without having to pay state and some local taxes on the items.
Jefferson County will not lift its sales tax during the weekend, but Shelby County shoppers will see a break at the cash register on their back-to-school purchases.
Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills are also participating in the sales tax holiday, which started in 2006.
Some of the tax-exempt items included in the weekend event are school uniforms, belts, pants, shirts, shoes and other general clothing items under $100 per item.
Computers and software, including laptops, PCs, printers, printer ink and paper, will also be tax exempt Aug. 1-3. In this category, items priced $750 and below are eligible for tax-exempt status.
School supplies are limited to $50 and under for each item, including binders, pens, pencils, paper and art supplies.
The sales tax holiday does not include exemptions on jewelry, sports equipment, cellular devices or furniture.
For more information and a full list of exempt items, visit the Alabama Department of Revenue website at www.revenue.alabama.gov.
