By STACI JONES | The Selma Times-Journal

Students will soon be returning to school. Along with that comes long supply lists and the need for back to school clothes.

But help for those expenses is in sight — the annual back to school sales tax free weekend will return Friday, Aug. 7 and continue until Sunday, Aug. 9.

During the weekend, common back-to-school items are exempt from sales tax. This includes school supplies like paper and pencils to calculators and laptops. Most clothing items are also exempt during the weekend. The tax holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 7 and last until midnight on Aug. 9.

“This is a perfect opportunity for parents to purchase needed school supplies and get a tax break at the same time,” said State Revenue Commissioner Julie Magee. “This is a win-win situation for parents, shoppers and retailers because consumers will be buying non-exempt items as well. Taxpayers, especially parents, will reap extra benefits if their city and county choose to participate, as they could be exempt from paying state, municipal and county taxes on their purchases,” Magee said.

Though retailers are required to participate, counties and cities are given the option to opt out of the holiday. Both Dallas County and the City of Selma have decided to participate in this year’s tax-free weekend.

For more information on tax-free weekend in the state of Alabama and an all-inclusive list of items that can be purchased exempt from sales tax, visit http://revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.cfm.