The Alabama Department of Revenue announced that effectively immediately, small retail businesses (those with average monthly sales less than $62,500) that are unable to pay their sales tax liabilities will be automatically granted extensions and penalties for late payment will be waived until June 1, 2020. Larger businesses can apply for similar relief and will be reviewed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. For more information about the tax relief measure, taxpayers are encouraged to visit the Department of Revenue’s COVID-19 Updates page, or call the Sales and Use Tax Division at 334-242-1490.

In an Executive Order issued as a Supplemental State of Emergency on March 18, 2020, Governor Kay Ivey moved Alabama’s primary runoff election scheduled for March 31, 2020, to July 14, 2020. Attorney General Steve Marshall had advised Secretary of State John Merrill in an Advisory Opinion issued March 17, 2020, that the Governor had the authority to do so under her statutory emergence powers provisions. Please click here for the proclamation by the Governor.

Following similar orders issued by the Public Health Officers in Jefferson and Mobile Counties, Alabama Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris issued an order covering an additional five counties that prohibits gatherings of more than 25 people where a distance of six feet cannot safely be maintained. The order, which covers Blount, St. Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa and Walker Counties also prohibits on-site dining or drinking in bars and restaurants, prohibits visitations at nursing home and long-term care facilities, and closes all private schools and senior citizen facilities. Please click here for the issued order.