Alabama's tax free holiday starts Friday

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Alabama's annual tax free shopping holiday kicks off August 5. Throughout the weekend back to school items, computers and clothing will be - you guessed it - tax free.

Parents are picking up back to school supplies making sure their child has all the pencils, paper and pens needed to make the grade.

For most kids, stocking up is fun.

"It is fun, and you've got a bunch of choices to chose from, and you can get book bags," said Alexis Gillette, a second grader at Semmes Elementary.

For most parents, it can be expensive.

Melissa Walls was shopping for a sixth grader. Walls said she expected to spend $100, but would it pay to wait for the tax holiday?

To test the theory, FOX10 used a supply list for a second grader at Collier Elementary School.

From the top of the list was a plastic school box, crayons followed by folders and ten glue sticks.

The total was up to $5.89.

At the end of our spree, we had gathered everything on our basic supply list, and our total before tax was $29. After tax: $31.91.

During the tax holiday, the savings would have come to a grand total of $2.90.

Keep in mind we did not purchase any of the enhanced instructional and health supplies on the wish list, such as washable markers, colored pencils, cap erasers, Clorox wipes and baby wipes to name a few.

Tax free shopping in Alabama starts Friday, August 5 and ends August 7.