Why Alabama's grocery tax won't disappear without major tax reform or citizens revolt

Alabama kicked off the month by celebrating a tax cut, reducing the state’s sales tax on groceries from 3% to 2%.

But while state officials marked the moment with smiles, a reality remains: Alabama is still one of only 10 states that tax groceries, and there’s little reason to believe that will change anytime soon – if ever.

Even if the remaining 2 percent state tax is eventually removed, the burden won’t disappear. Local governments still collect grocery taxes - that don’t go to the state and for their own use - in all 67 counties and by more than 460 municipalities across Alabama.

State lawmakers began cutting Alabama’s share of the sales tax on groceries three years ago, and could continue whittling the final 2 percentage points away in the coming years.

However, in cities, the