I think this goes back to a Supreme Court decision allow states to collect online sales tax.

AL started doing it in (I think) 2018. I remember the first order I made after it passed was through an online retailer....but I called to place the order because when I was trying to do it online it kept adding tax and I knew they didn't have a presence in AL. When I called they said they were sorry but that AL now had an online tax.

Here's what I found on how the new sales tax income is "used" in AL:

Quote


......The state gets half of the proceeds, dividing 75 percent to the general fund and 25 percent to the education fund. Of the remaining amount, 60 percent goes to municipalities and 40 percent to counties, based on population.



..basically no idea how the state (or counties or municipalities) will use it...just how it's divided up.