In many Alabama communities school starts in less than a month. Summer is going fast and it is time for parents to think about budgets and items their young ones may need. Thankfully, the State of Alabama offers a few days each year when you can purchase school items and not pay sales taxes.

Alabama will hold its 19th annual back-to-school sales tax holiday, beginning Friday, July 19 at 12:01 a.m. and ending Sunday, July 21 at midnight. This event gives shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain school supplies, computers, and clothing free of state sales tax. Local sales tax may still apply.

Here are some of the items included in the Tax-Free list:

Computers - A single purchase with a sales price of $750 or less. For a purchase to be eligible, a computer may include a laptop, desktop, or tower computer system which consists of a central processing unit (CPU), and devices such as a display monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers sold as a computer package. Computer parts and devices not sold as part of a package with the CPU, will not qualify for the exemption.

Software/ Other - School computer supplies - An item commonly used by a student in a course of study in which a computer is used. All-inclusive list includes:

• Computer storage media; diskettes, compact disks

• Handheld electronic schedulers, except devices that are cellular phones

• Personal digital assistants, except devices that are cellular phones

• Computer printers

• Printer supplies for computers (printer paper, printer ink)

School Supplies - Sales price of $50 or less, per item (noncommercial purchases) This is an all-inclusive list.

• Binders

• Blackboard chalk

• Book bags

• Calculators

• Cellophane tape

• Compasses

• Composition books

• Crayons

• Erasers

• Folders (expandable, pocket,

plastic, and manila)

• Glue, paste, and paste sticks

• Highlighters

• Index cards

• Index card boxes

• Legal pads

• Lunch boxes

• Markers

• Notebooks

• Protractors

• Paper (colored, construction, copy,

graph, loose leaf ruled notebook,

manila, and tracing papers and poster

board)

• Pencil boxes and other school

supply boxes

• Pencil sharpeners

• Pencils

• Pens

• Rulers

• Scissors

• Writing tablet

Clothing - $100 or less, per article of clothing

Includes all human wearing apparel suitable for general use. This is not an all-inclusive list.

• Belts

• Boots

• Caps

• Coats

• Diapers

• Dresses

• Gloves

• Gym Suits

• Hats

• Hosiery

• Jackets

• Jeans

• Neckties

• Pajamas

• Pants

• Raincoats

• Robes

• Sandals

• Scarves

• School Uniforms

• Shirts

• Shoes

• Shorts

• Socks

• Sneakers

• Underwear

You can view more information from the official Alabama Department of Revenue website HERE.