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It’s every shopper’s favorite weekend of the year – tax-free weekend begins this Saturday, August 10, in Massachusetts.
This year, Sales Tax Free Day is Saturday, August 10th and Sunday, August 11th. On these two days, retail items under $2,500 purchased for personal use are exempt from Massachusetts state sales tax. The sales tax in Massachusetts is 6.25%.
Find out how to make the most of the weekend below.
How to Participate in Massachusetts Tax-Free Weekend
Shop! All MA businesses that are open on August 10 and 11 and have taxable sales must participate in the sales tax-free period. If a retailer collects sales tax, the business is responsible for the refund.
Does Massachusetts tax-free weekend work online?
Can’t go to stores in person? You can still take advantage of the tax-free weekend online. Purchases of eligible items made online during the holiday (i.e., during the tax-free holiday in the Eastern Standard Time Zone) will not be subject to sales tax, even if those items are delivered after the holiday.
This means your Amazon purchases qualify for the Massachusetts tax-free weekend.
What is included in the Massachusetts tax-free weekend?
The tax-free weekend in Massachusetts includes most retail items valued at up to $2,500, but there are some exceptions.
What items are excluded from the Massachusetts tax-free weekend?
The most important thing to note is that the VAT exemption only applies to personal Purchases. This means that items purchased by or for a business are still subject to tax.
However, there are some exceptions when it comes to personal purchases. According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website, the following retail items are exempt from sales tax:
- Catering
- Motor vehicles
- Motorboats
- Telecommunications services
- gas
- steam
- Electricity
- Tobacco products
- Marijuana and related products
- Alcoholic beverages
- Any single item over $2,500
- Every single item of clothing over $175
For items exceeding $2,500, the entire purchase amount is taxable. For clothing items exceeding $175, only the excess amount is taxable.
More information about the tax-free weekend in MA:
- Installment purchases do not qualify for VAT exemption.
- Rentals of up to 30 days are permitted provided the rental is paid in full during the holiday (excluding motor vehicles or motorboats).
- It is not possible to cancel a purchase that has already been made or to rebook the purchase during the holiday if a deposit, advance payment or payment commitment has been made.
- Delivery of items purchased during the tax-free weekend can be arranged after the end of the holiday.
- If you exchange or return an item after the VAT exemption period, no VAT will be charged on the day of the exchange.
