HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
The seventh annual sales tax holiday starts at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 3 and will continue through Sunday, August 5.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley encouraged families to participate and stock up on back-to-school items.
"The cost of school supplies can quickly add up, and this sales tax holiday is about saving families money," Governor Bentley said. "This is also a way of encouraging shoppers to support our businesses, large and small. It covers a wide range of items from school supplies to clothing and computers. I encourage people to take advantage of this opportunity to save some money while also preparing for the start of the new school year."
While you won't have a problem with paper and pens, electronics like computers are only tax free if they are under $750. Giga Parts, a Huntsville Company, said that if customers want to stop by their store all computers will be tax free. They are even giving a $10 donation to the PTA of the buyers choice if someone buys a computer more than $1,000.
JC Penny's in Huntsville is preparing for the sales tax holiday. The store is opening one hour early at 9 a.m. and closing one hour later at 10 p.m. Manager Christina Hamer compared the crowds to another popular shopping holiday.
"We get large Christmas type crowds," Hamer said. "Last year we had every associate in the whole store working including the people who normally work our truck early in the morning. Everybody is working together here."
The company's salon is offering free haircuts to kids in kindergarten through sixth grade.
Alabama's sales tax holiday provision also allows cities and counties to join the state by removing their own local sales and use taxes from back-to-school-related items during the same weekend.
More than 250 local governments across the state are participating. A list of participating municipalities can be found on the Alabama Department of Revenue's website – www.revenue.alabama.gov.
Copyright 2012 WAFF. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WAFF, a Raycom Media Station. 