By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com
DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — As part of Alabama's Severe Weather Awareness Week, Alabama will hold a state sales tax holiday for severe weather preparedness supplies from Friday, February 26 to Sunday, February 28.
Since 2012, Alabama has held a sales tax holiday to allow citizens statewide to purchase common supplies under $60 that every home and business needs to be prepared for a natural disaster or emergency. Additionally, generators costing less than $1,000 may be purchased free of the state's four-percent sales tax as well.
Items included in the sales tax holiday:
- AAA-cell, AA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, 9-volt, and cellular phone batteries
- Cell phone charger
- Portable self-powered or battery-powered radio
- Two-way radios
- Weatherband radio or NOAA weather radio
- Portable self-powered light sources like flashlights, lanterns, and emergency glow sticks
- Tarpaulin
- Plastic sheeting or drop cloths
- Flexible, waterproof sheeting
- Ground anchor systems like bungee cords, rope, or tiedown kits
- Duct tape
- Plywood, window film or other materials designed to protect window coverings
- Non-electric food or water storage container
- Non-electric can opener
- Artificial and blue ice, ice packs, reusable ice
- Self-contained first aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Smoke detector
- Carbon monoxide detector
- Gas or diesel fuel tank container
Local sales taxes may apply when purchasing these items, unless a specific municipality has waived their taxation as well. All waived taxes for counties and cities fall under the same rules as the statewide sales tax holiday guidelines. To see a full list of participating municipalities, visit revenue.alabama.gov.
For further information, please contact the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) at (334) 242-1490 or (866) 576-6531.