Montgomery – Shoppers across Alabama can stock up on severe weather preparedness supplies without paying state sales tax during a three-day holiday set for February 20–22, 2026. Many cities and counties also participate by waiving local sales taxes, increasing total savings.
Alabama’s 15th Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, and runs through midnight Sunday, Feb. 22. During that time, qualifying emergency supplies can be purchased free of the state’s 4% sales tax.
The idea behind the annual tax holiday is to encourage Alabama families to take proactive steps to protect their homes and prepare for the state’s frequent severe weather threats. This year’s tax holiday features expanded exemption limits after lawmakers approved legislation during the 2025 session to modernize Alabama’s sales tax holidays. The measure increased dollar thresholds and indexed them to the Consumer Price Index, resulting in higher exemption caps for 2026 purchases.
Retailers across the state are encouraging residents to plan ahead and review eligible supply lists before the weekend begins. With the new standards in place for 2026, Alabama shoppers can stock up tax free on common supplies costing less than $94 that every home and business needs to prepare for a natural disaster or even a general emergency. Generators costing $1,564 or less also can be purchased free of the state’s four-percent sales tax during the three-day tax holiday, along with whatever their local jurisdictions include.
The Alabama Retail Association created the graphic below to depict eligible items:
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