Alabama’s sixth annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday will be held Friday, February 24, through Sunday, February 26, in communities across the state, but only one of Escambia County’s taxing municipalities will take part.
A provision in the Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday law allows counties and municipalities to join the state by removing their own local sales and use taxes from the same items during the same weekend.
According to information provided by the Alabama Department of Revenue, Flomaton is the only local city that will participate in the special sales tax-waiver period. Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton and Escambia County did not file tax waivers for the period.
“I talked with several of our businesses six or seven years ago, and they said they didn’t want to be part of it,” Atmore Mayor Jim Staff said. “They have to reset their computers for those three days, and they said it was more trouble than it was worth.”
Area cities and counties that are participating in the tax holiday include Baldwin and Conecuh counties, Bay Minette and Evergreen.
Alabama residents are encouraged to stock up on a variety of supplies that could play a role in protecting their lives, homes or businesses during the state’s upcoming tornado and hurricane seasons.
The state’s tornado season generally runs from March through May, although areas around Tuscaloosa have a second season that lasts throughout November and into early December. The period during which hurricanes are most likely to occur is June 1 through November 30.
The following items are covered under the Severe Weather Preparedness holiday and have a sales price of $60 or less per item:
• Batteries: AAA-cell batteries, AA-cell batteries, C-cell batteries, D-cell batteries, 6-volt batteries, 9-volt batteries. (Coin batteries, automobile batteries and boat batteries are not exempt.)
• Cellular phone batteries
• Cellular phone chargers
• Portable self-powered or battery-powered radios, two-way radios, weather-band radios or NOAA weather radios
• Portable self-powered light sources, including battery-powered flashlights, lanterns, or emergency glow sticks
• Tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible, waterproof sheeting
• Ground anchor systems, such as bungee cords or rope, or tie-down kits
• Duct tape
• Plywood, window film or other materials specifically designed to protect window coverings
• Non-electric food storage coolers or water storage containers
• Non-electric can openers
• Artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs, reusable ice
• Self-contained first aid kits
• Fire extinguishers
• Smoke detectors
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Gas or diesel fuel tanks or containers
Exempt items that have a sales price of more than $60 but no higher than $1,000 include portable generators and power cords.
For more information about Alabama’s annual Sales Tax Holiday for Severe Weather Preparedness visit http://revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/WPSalesTaxHol.cfm.