MONTGOMERY, Ala. – From Friday, Feb. 21 to Sunday, Feb. 23 Alabama will observe the state’s ninth annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. The Alabama Retail Association encourages Alabamians to restock emergency supplies in homes, workplaces and vehicles during this three-day tax holiday. Certain emergency preparedness items will be exempt from the state’s 4% state sales tax, and in some cities and counties, local taxes are waived on those items as well. The tax holiday means shoppers can save as much as 10% on these items in some areas of the state.
The cities of Cullman, Good Hope and Hanceville and Cullman County are all participating, along with the towns of Addison, Dodge City, Eva, Fairview, Garden City and Arley.
To see which communities are participating, go to https://revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/sales-tax-holidays/alabama-severe-weather-preparedness-sales-tax-holiday. (Localities that do not levy a sales tax are not listed.)
From 12:01 a.m. Feb. 21 to midnight Feb. 23, the tax-exempt items include the following priced at $60 or less:
- Flashlights, lanterns
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Batteries
- First-aid kits
- Cell phone charger
- Two-way radios
- Manual can openers
- Tarps and plastic sheeting
- Duct tape
- Fire extinguishers
- Tie-down kits, bungee cords or rope
Other tax-free items include coolers, ice packs, plywood, window film and smoke/fire/carbon monoxide detectors. Portable generators and power cords costing $1,000 or less are also tax-free. For a full list of items, see http://bit.ly/2uhkrll.
Alabama Retail recommends having enough supplies in emergency kits to last 72 hours following a disaster. For information on what items to include in emergency kits, as well as steps to take before and after disasters, visit ready.gov.
