Are online purchases included in Alabama's tax-free weekend?

A recent Supreme Court ruling begs the question. (Photo by Megan Farmer/Omaha World-Herald via AP, File)

Alabama's annual back-to-school sales tax holiday is this weekend.

But what does that mean in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing sales tax on online purchases?

For some purchases, virtually nothing - as Alabama won't start collecting online sales taxes until Oct. 1.

However with some online retailers already collecting sales tax, such as Amazon.com, the item must be ordered and delivered during the weekend before the deadline expires at midnight Sunday, according to the Alabama Department of Revenue.

This weekend, eligible "back-to-school" items will be tax-free, meaning a savings of up to 10 percent in some cities.

The holiday began at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ends at midnight Sunday, July 22. Expect extended hours in some stores.

The tax exempt weekend applies to a multitude of products, including clothing, computer equipment, books, and other supplies.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June allowed sales tax assessments even on businesses that aren't physically located in a state.

There are already more than 230 remote retailers registered with the Alabama Simplified Sellers Use Tax Program, or SSUT.

SSUT allows merchants to pay a flat 8 percent sales taxes and avoid navigating the more than 200 different city and county sales taxes across the state. Of the 8 percent, 4 percent goes to the state's coffers, 2 percent goes to counties and 2 percent to cities, with the county and city shares prorated for population.

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