Alabama Sales Tax Holiday

Get ready for the Alabama Sales Tax Holiday August 1st - 3rd, when qualifying purchases will be exempt from state sales tax.  Even better, most local governments in the Birmingham area are participating, so they will not be collecting taxes either. 

Qualifying purchases include things like clothing ($100 or less per article of clothing), DIAPERS (yes, diapers; see for yourself on the Sales Tax Holiday Quick Sheet) and of course, the mother-of-all back to school purchases, personal computers. 

If you aren't purchasing for kids but could use some things yourself, note that the tax exclusion also includes hosiery, underwear, and shoes. (Sneakers are acceptable, sport shoes are specifically excluded; no mention of stillettos?  Let's not point this out). The holiday even includes books at $30 or less.

The sales tax holiday can mean you save a combined 10% on your purchases, depending on location, but do consider your overall purchase price. I'd rather pay a reduced sale price with 10% tax helping to fund my highways and schools than a higher purchase price with no tax.

Following is a list of Birmingham-area governments, with most participating. For more details, see the List of participants.

Alabaster                        Helena                    Mountain Brook

Birmingham City             Homewood               Trussville

Center Point                   Hoover                     Vestavia Hills

Calera                            Irondale

Gardendale - NOT PARTICIPATING

The big retail complexes will be buzzing, so plan your shopping strategy accordingly.  On the other hand, if you don't need to make purchases this weekend, I suggest you reschedule your SuperTarget and Wal Mart runs for after the sales tax holiday ends Sunday at midnight.