MONTGOMERY – Alabama is observing its seventh annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday this weekend. It will run from Friday, Feb. 23 through Sunday, Feb. 25.
Alabamians can restock on emergency supplies during the three-day tax holiday. Certain emergency preparedness items will be exempt from the state’s 4-percent state sales tax, and in Cullman County, local taxes are waived on those items as well, meaning a savings of 10 percent locally.
From 12:01 a.m. Feb. 23 to midnight Feb. 25, the tax-exempt items include the following, priced at $60 or less:
- Flashlights, lanterns
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radios
- Batteries
- First-aid kits
- Cell phone chargers
- Two-way radios
- Manual can openers
- Tarps and plastic sheeting
- Duct tape
- Fire extinguishers
- Tie-down kits, bungee cords or ropes
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 tax-free items, go to www.alabamaretail.org/alabamasalestaxholidays.
Alabama's tax holiday is the earliest among the four states with a severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday. The Texas tax holiday is in April, Louisiana's is in May and Virginia's is in August.
“Severe weather can occur at any time, in any season,” said Alabama Retail Association President Rick Brown. “The tax holiday helps Alabama consumers remember to stock and prepare emergency kits to be ready when storms strike.”
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 www.ready.gov.
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