By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
back-to-school sales tax holiday, giving families a break on
clothing, school supplies, and computers. (Alabama Depart-
ment of Revenue)
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Madison County families can expect some relief this summer during Alabama’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday, thanks to a unanimous vote by county commissioners this week.
The three-day holiday — taking place from 12:01 a.m. on July 18 through midnight on July 20 — allows shoppers to buy qualifying school-related items without paying Alabama’s 4% state sales tax. Madison County’s additional 0.5% local tax will also be waived for eligible purchases.
Now in its 20th year, the holiday is designed to ease the financial burden on families preparing for a new academic year.
Here’s a breakdown of what items qualify:
Clothing
Clothing items intended for general wear and priced at $100 or less per article will be tax-exempt. This includes:
Shirts, pants, shoes, socks, belts, gloves
School uniforms and outerwear
Hats and underwear
Note: Accessories such as jewelry, handbags, and sports gear are not included.
Computers and Accessories
Computer purchases qualify for exemption if the total cost is less than $750 and sold as a complete package (CPU, monitor, keyboard, and mouse).
Eligible: Laptops, desktops, tower systems
Not eligible: Individually sold components (e.g., printers, graphic cards)
Most educational software also qualifies, though non-educational video games do not.
Books and Supplies
Books: Must be $30 or less
School Supplies: Items priced at $50 or less are exempt, including:
Backpacks, calculators, binders
Markers, crayons, pens, paper, notebooks
Art supplies and instructional materials
Magazines and periodicals are not covered.
The Alabama Department of Revenue provides a full list of exempt items on its website.
With the cost of living rising, local officials said the tax break is a welcomed benefit for parents and students across the county.