If you’ve waited to begin back to school shopping, you’re in luck. Alabama’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is this weekend!

Several states have similar holidays to help people save some money on clothing and supplies. Although the few percentage points of sales tax don’t add up to much of a savings, the sales and discounts at shops often do. Retailers embrace the holiday weekend, many offering huge discounts on clothing, computers, and other goods that qualify.

Anyone heading to the stores should check the strict rules associated with the savings plan. Basic clothing items qualify, along with some shoes, socks, undergarments, coats, etc.; however, specialized shoes, belt buckles, cosmetics, and many other items won’t get the tax discount. Each individual piece of clothing must be $100 or less.

It’s also a great time to get a value computer; however, the entire computer package, being a laptop or desktop, must be a package valued at $750 or less. If the purchase isn’t an entire package, the monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. won’t qualify. Printers, paper, and ink qualify, but a computer desk does not. Neither do video games or software for recreation.

Extracurricular equipment, such as for band or athletics, do not quality.

When it comes to stocking backpacks and classrooms, most school supplies do qualify as long as its value is $50 or less. Certain books valued at $30 or less also qualify.

Before heading out to the local retailer, be sure the municipality or county participates. There are quite a few locations in Alabama that don’t honor the sales tax holiday. To see the 2023 status for certain locales, click here.

This year’s holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ends at midnight Sunday.