Better Business Bureau: Don’t get caught in a scam on Alabama’s tax-free holiday

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) – We’re just a few days away from Alabama’s tax-free holiday, but the Better Business Bureau wants to make sure you make the best use of your money these next few days and don’t get caught up in a scam.

Carl Bates is the president and CEO of the Birmingham Better Business Bureau. He said the best place to start is the Alabama Department of Revenue’s website , which will tell you what qualifies, whether your city or county is observing tax-free offerings and cost limits on certain items.

“It’ll tell you whether your city or county is participating, as well as the state, because you’ll want to shop in those cities and counties where you’ll get the most tax savings, and it also gets you the cost limits on all of those items,” Bates said. “You want to make sure you’re getting the legitimate retailer and not a knockoff that may not deliver the item you were looking for.”

Bates said to not be confused by advertising that states products are part of a back-to-school sale. That doesn’t necessarily mean the items are tax-free.

“You need to make sure that you are within the rules and within a community that has a tax-free sale,” Bates said.

He said Amazon reported Tuesday that 1,600 websites that look like the company have been put out there in the last week that it identified are not Amazon.

If you see a good deal online, make sure tax has been removed, don’t fall for fake websites and watch out for social media and unsolicited text messages.

If you believe you have been caught up in a scam, Bates said to report it to the BBB , notify the impersonated company and call your credit card company immediately.

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