8 Things You Need to Know Before You Shop On Massachusetts’ Tax Free Weekend
Tax Free Weekend for 2023 will be held this weekend on Saturday, Aug. 12, and Sunday, Aug. 13.
Most retail items of up to $2,500, purchased in Massachusetts for personal use on these two days, will be exempt from sales tax.
So! Get ready to unleash your inner bargain hunter because Tax Free Weekend in Massachusetts is back.
And it’s like a holiday for your wallet!
Trust us, your credit card is going to thank you for this.
Picture this: you stroll into your favorite store, pick up that shirt you’ve been eyeing, and just as you’re about to head to the checkout, bam!
The price magically drops because it’s Tax Free Weekend. It’s like getting a secret discount, and who doesn’t love secrets?
Plus, your wallet will do a happy dance – cha-ching!
But wait, what’s the deal with Tax Exempt Weekend, you ask? Well, it’s like a mini shopping vacation from the annoying sales tax. You know, that sneaky extra amount that always pops up at the register, making you do mental math that you thought you left behind in high school.
The retail gods are smiling upon Massachusetts.
It’s time to give your wardrobe a makeover without feeling like you’re donating a slice of your paycheck to the taxman.
So, here’s the plan: gather your shopping buddies, charge up your phones for impromptu fashion shows, and hit the malls like you’re on a treasure hunt. You can practically hear your wallet cheering you on. Just remember to be polite and let others have their shopping frenzies, too.
In a nutshell, Tax Free Weekend in Massachusetts is your golden ticket to guilt-free shopping.
It’s the time to snag those goodies you’ve been lusting after, all without the pesky sales tax. So, mark your calendar, grab your comfy shoes, and get ready to shop ’til you drop, chuckling all the way to the bank!
These Items DO NOT QUALIFY!
The following items are still taxable and do not qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption:
Meals
Motor vehicles
Motorboats
Telecommunications services
Gas
Steam
Electricity
Tobacco products
Marijuana or marijuana products
Alcoholic beverages, and
Any single item whose price is more than $2,500.
What about Internet sales?
Yes. An item will qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption if you order and pay for an eligible item over the internet: On the sales tax holiday an during Eastern Daylight Time. No sales tax is due on that purchase, even if delivery of the item occurs after the sales tax holiday weekend.
Layaway? Put it Away
Layaway sales do not qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption. Oh well! Keep saving!
Do all retailers have to play along?
Yes. All businesses must take part in the sales tax holiday if the business. Normally makes taxable sales of tangible property in Massachusetts or to purchasers in Massachusetts and is open for business on August 12 and 13.
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Do Rentals Qualify?
If you rent an item that qualifies for the sales tax holiday exemption, you can use the sales tax holiday for rentals of up to 30 days. However, the rental must be paid for in full on the holiday weekend. Exempt rentals do not include: motor vehicles or motorboats.
Father and son fishing on boat
What if I spend more than $2,500 on an item?
If you spend more than $2,500 on an item, the entire amount paid for the item is subject to sales tax, not just the amount that exceeds that threshold. That seems unfair, but I don’t write tax laws.
Getty
What if I buy lots of stuff that each cost $2,500 or less, but the total price is more than $2,500?
If the price of each individual item is $2,500 or less, you can combine as many items as you want, tax-free, even if the combined items cost more than $2,500. So go bananas!
What about clothes?
Yes. An item of clothing is generally exempt from the sales tax unless the item costs more than $175.
For items that cost more than $175, only the amount over $175 is subject to tax.
On the sales tax holiday, if the price of an item of clothing is less than or equal to $2,500, the entire amount is not subject to tax.
On the sales tax holiday, if the price of an item of clothing is more than $2,500, the first $175 is not subject to tax but the rest would be.
