By: Shayla Terry

With a new school year around the corner, parents and children statewide will get a jump on savings with the 12th annual tax-free holiday this weekend.

The holiday is held earlier than usual this year due to the Alabama Department of Revenue wishing to give shoppers more time to buy supplies before the school year gets under way. The sale will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday night and end of the midnight following Sunday.

“This is certainly an opportunity for county retailers to see a few more a customers and for citizens to enjoy a tax-free weekend on school supplies,” said Crenshaw County chamber of commerce president Donald Nix.

The weekend’s purpose it to give residents a break on school shopping, so not everything will be tax-free merchandise. Clothing articles that are priced at $100 or less will be tax-free. Unusual items that fall into that category are gloves, raincoats and pajamas. Almost all normal articles of clothing will be tax-free.

Computers, computer software and school computer supplies will also be tax-free as long as they carry a single purchase price of $750 or less. Computer accessories such as a mouse and keyboard must be sold as a package with the computer. Otherwise, individual purchases will not fall under tax-free privileges. School computer supplies are USB storage devices, compact disks, printers and tablets. Cell phones are not included. Books are also tax-free as long as they carry a $30 or less price tag and feature an ISBN number. Traditional school supplies will all be tax-free.

“Many of our local retailers will be having other back to school specials to entice shoppers to enjoy discounts on their purchases in addition to the tax-free weekend,” Nix said.

The Factory Connection in Luverne will be one of the stores participating with special savings.

“We have the denim sale going on,” said manager Alice Stroud. “If you buy one pair, you can get a second pair for 50 percent off.”

For shoppers who have clothes on layaway at the Factory Connection, there will be no taxes on the purchase, if it is taken out during the weekend.

Rite Aid of Luverne has an aisle dedicated to back to school supplies.

“Our seasonal aisle is aisle six,” manager Adam Hughes said. “We have lunch boxes, backpacks, and everything for the classroom. We don’t just have supplies just for elementary, middle school and high school students. We also have supplies for college students like furniture and lamps.”

You won’t have to worry about Rite Aide running out of supplies, Hughes says their back stock is plentiful.

All stores within Crenshaw County will participate in the holiday weekend, except those in the city of Brantley.