By By Adam Robinson
sports editor
Area stores are gearing up for a busy weekend as the sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
With summer ending and school set to begin again on Monday and Tuesday for area students, Alabama is holding its fourth annual sales tax holiday beginning on Friday.
Beginning Friday at 12:01 a.m. and ending Sunday, Aug. 9 at midnight, shoppers will have the opportunity to purchase certain school supplies, computers, and clothing free of tax.
For shoppers in Escambia County, only Brewton and East Brewton are taking part in the sales tax holiday weekend. Shoppers will be exempt from the city sales tax, but will still have to pay the 1 percent county tax.
Of the 8 percent sales tax paid by Brewton area residents, 4 percent is state sales tax, 1 percent is county tax and 3 percent is city tax. Those who make eligible purchases during the tax holiday period will only be required to pay the 1 percent sales tax levied by the county.
Local retailers said they expect to be busy over the two-day sales tax holiday.
Sherry Davenport at Bonehead Boots said she has already had calls from numerous people about orders for the sales tax holiday.
Davenport said she has to have more people on staff during the special week than normally.
Bonehead Boots offers school uniforms, socks, shoes, belts and other items.
Kathy McCurdy at Nena’s Place has said the same thing about the tax holiday week.
McCurdy said Nena’s Place will be open regular hours on Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be back open on Saturday for the tax holiday at 9 a.m.
McCurdy said the store has all colors of uniforms.
Clothing items such as jackets, pants, shirts, coats, dresses, hats, school uniforms, socks, underwear, sneakers and other shoes are included on the tax-exempt list. Only items with price tags of less than $100 are included on the list. Accessories, protective equipment and sport or recreational equipment or uniforms are not included in the holiday program and are fully taxable.
Computers, computer software and school computer supplies including printers, diskettes or compact disks as well as printer supplies and other handheld digital devices are also included. Cost for those items is limited to $750 or less.
School supplies, school art supplies and school instructional materials priced at $50 or less per item are exempt from state and city taxes. Books priced $30 or less are also included on the list.