The Alabama legislature has enacted and the governor has signed Senate Bill 136, which moves the 2017 back-to-school sales tax holiday forward from the first weekend in August to the third full weekend of July. The bill takes effect immediately, so the 2017 tax-free period will begin at 12:01 a.m. on the third Friday of July and conclude at midnight, the following Sunday.

The Alabama sales tax holiday applies to the state sales tax; local tax jurisdictions can opt to participate and exempt qualifying items from local tax. However, localities are not obligated to participate. For the most up-to-date list of participating jurisdictions, see the Alabama Department of Revenue.

Sales tax holidays complicate sales and use tax compliance for vendors. Tax automation software facilitates it for businesses of all sizes in all states. Learn more.