Alabama tax free weekend: What’s included, how to save on school supplies

This weekend, Alabama families can gear up for another school year by shopping during the state’s annual sales tax holiday.

The holiday is from July 18 to July 21. Certain items are exempted from the state sales tax. Local cities and counties may also opt to waive their local sales or use tax.

Madison County

is the latest locality to join the tax-free weekend. To see which areas are participating in the tax-free weekend, go to the

Department of Revenue website.

For a complete list of eligible and ineligible items,

download this PDF shopping list

from the Department of Revenue.

What items are tax-free?

Clothing: Apparel of $100 or less per article of clothing

Included:

• 
  Belts
  
• 
  Shoes, including boots, sneakers and sandals
  
• 
  Caps/hats
  
• 
  Coats/jackets/raincoats
  
• 
  Diapers
  
• 
  Dresses
  
• 
  Gloves
  
• 
  Gym Suits
  
• 
  Hosiery
  
• 
  Jeans/pants
  
• 
  Neckties
  
• 
  Pajamas
  
• 
  Robes
  
• 
  School Uniforms
  
• 
  Shirts
  
• 
  Shorts
  
• 
  Socks
  
• 
  Underwear
  

Not eligible:

• 
  Belt buckles (sold separately)
  
• 
  Breathing masks
  
• 
  Briefcases
  
• 
  Cosmetics
  
• 
  Costume masks (sold separately)
  
• 
  Hair notions like barrettes and hair bows
  
• 
  Handbags
  
• 
  Handkerchiefs
  
• 
  Jewelry
  
• 
  Sunglasses, eyeglasses, contacts (prescription or nonprescription)
  
• 
  Umbrellas
  
• 
  Wallets
  
• 
  Watches
  
• 
  Ballet or tap shoes
  
• 
  Band instruments
  
• 
  Cleated or spiked athletic shoes
  
• 
  Gloves (baseball, bowling, boxing, hockey, golf, etc.)
  
• 
  Goggles
  
• 
  Hand, mouth, shin and elbow guards
  
• 
  Roller and ice skates
  
• 
  Shoulder pads
  
• 
  Ski boots
  
• 
  Waders
  
• 
  Wetsuits and fins
  
• 
  Wigs and hair pieces
  

Books and school supplies: $50 or less per item

Included:

• 
  Required textbooks on an official school book list that’s between $50 or less
  
• 
  Other books that are $30 or less
  
• 
  Binders
  
• 
  Book bags
  
• 
  Calculators
  
• 
  Crayons
  
• 
  Erasers
  
• 
  Folders
  
• 
  Glue, paste, and paste sticks
  
• 
  Clay and glazes
  
• 
  School art supplies like, paints, clay, sketchpads and paintbrushes
  
• 
  Reference maps and globes
  
• 
  Highlighters & markers
  
• 
  Lunch boxes
  
• 
  Notebooks
  
• 
  Paper
  
• 
  Pencils and pens
  
• 
  Rulers
  
• 
  Scissors
  

Not eligible:

• 
  Magazines
  
• 
  Newspapers and periodicals
  

Computers and Electronic Supplies

An eligible item is a single purchase of $750 or less. Eligible computers can include a laptop or desktop with included parts like a monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. Separate computer parts and devices are not eligible.

Included:

• 
  Computer software
  
• 
  Computer storage media like disks
  
• 
  Handheld electronic schedulers, except devices that are cellular phones
  
• 
  Personal digital assistants
  
• 
  Computer printers
  
• 
  Printer supplies for computers (paper and ink)
  

Not eligible:

• 
  Furniture
  
• 
  Any systems, devices, software, peripherals designed or intended primarily for recreational use
  
• 
  Video games of a non-educational nature
  

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