By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

Municipalities across Shelby County have once again elected to participate in the 10th annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday.

Enacted in 2006, the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday provides a weekend-long sales tax break on back-to-school items, from clothing to electronics. Cities and counties may voluntarily participate in the tax holiday.

As of May 29, more than 200 municipalities and counties across Alabama had confirmed participation in the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, including Shelby County, Alabaster, Chelsea, Columbiana, Helena and Pelham.

The Hoover City Council discussed plans to participate during a June 11 City Council work session. Hoover participated in the sales tax holiday last year.

“It’s a weekend deal,” City Council President Jack Wright explained during the work session. “It’s generally done across the state of Alabama.”

The council will likely approve a resolution to participate in this year’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday during the June 15 regular meeting. Information about the tax-free weekend will be posted to the city’s website.

This year’s Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7 and conclude at midnight on Sunday, Aug. 9.

Items included in the tax free weekend are clothing priced at $100 or less per item; school, art and instructional materials with a sales price of $50 per item; box priced at $30 or less per book; and a single purchase of computers, computer software and school computer supplies of $750 or less.

Items that will remain taxable through the weekend include clothing accessories, cosmetics, jewelry, specific sporting equipment, cellphones, video games and gaming systems, magazines and newspapers.

For more information about the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday and a full list of taxable and non-taxable items, visit Revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.cfm.