Alabama families will soon have an opportunity to save money on school essentials as the state’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday returns July 17-19.
The three-day tax-free weekend begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 17, and runs through midnight Sunday, July 19. During that time, shoppers can purchase a variety of qualifying back-to-school items without paying the state’s 4% sales tax. Participating cities and counties may also waive their local sales taxes, increasing savings for consumers.
The sales tax holiday, now in its 21st year, is designed to help families prepare for the upcoming school year while easing the financial burden of purchasing classroom supplies, clothing and technology.
According to the Alabama Department of Revenue, eligible items include clothing, school supplies, books and certain computer equipment that fall within established price limits. Beginning with the 2026 tax holiday, those limits have been increased. Qualifying clothing items priced at $156 or less per article are exempt, while school supplies, school art supplies and instructional materials priced at $78 or less per item also qualify. Books priced at $47 or less are eligible, and computers and related equipment purchased for educational use may qualify under specific guidelines.
The annual tax holiday takes place during the third full weekend of July and was created to help Alabama families stretch their budgets before students return to classrooms. State officials encourage shoppers to review the list of exempt items and check whether their local governments are participating in the program before making purchases.
With back-to-school shopping season underway, retailers across Alabama are expected to see increased customer traffic as families take advantage of the temporary tax break. The holiday remains one of the state’s most popular consumer savings events each year.
About the Author
