Madison getting sales tax holiday in July

“Covered items” of $60 or less per item would be exempt. A single purchase of any portable generator and power cord with a sales price of $1,000 or less would also be exempt.

Madison city will get its first severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday during the first full weekend in July.

The decision was made at Monday night’s City Council meeting where Council suspended the rules for immediate consideration of the resolution.

The resolution gives a sales tax break to certain severe weather preparedness items.

“Most of all areas are going to be participating in this,” said Revenue Director Cameron Grounds. “It’s something that’s going to be good for the community.”

This is Madison’s first year participating in the tax holiday. Guidelines state the city must adopt a new ordinance if officials wish to participate in the tax break in the future.

“Covered items” of $60 or less per item would be exempt. A single purchase of any portable generator and power cord with a sales price of $1,000 or less would also be exempt.

In a document from Grounds to the mayor and City Council, his department said they estimate the revenue effect of the city’s participation in the sales tax holiday will be around $4,000 to $5,000.

Below is a list of covered items:

AAA-cell batteries; cellular phone batteries; cellular phone chargers; portable self-powered or battery-powered radios; two- way radios; weatherband radios or NOAA weather radios; portable self-powered light sources including battery- powered flashlights, lanterns or emergency glow sticks; duct tape, non-electric can openers; artificial ice; blue ice; ice packs; fire extinguishers; smoke detectors; gas or Diesel fuel tanks for containers; and First Aid kits.

The tax holiday will begin Friday, July 6 at 12:01 a.m. and end Sunday, July 8 at midnight.

For more information, the Alabama Department of Revenue can be reached at (334) 242-1490 or 866-576-6531, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.