Sales tax-free weekend returns in Massachusetts

Boston (WBZ NewsRadio) – From Saturday, August 10, through Sunday, August 11, the sales tax-free weekend has returned to Massachusetts. State tax will be waived on purchases in stores and online.

The sales tax in the Bay State is 6.25 percent. This holiday weekend was signed into law in 2018, but most people still don’t know about it.

A shopper at Assembly Row in Somerville told WBZ NewsRadio, “I didn’t even know such a thing existed.”

Dave is also hearing about the event for the first time. He moved here from New York in June and still needs to buy some furniture “…so I’m glad this is happening (because) everything is pretty expensive here,” he continued.

Others can’t wait to take advantage, like Felicia, who had marked this weekend on her calendar for some time. “Why not go somewhere where there are good prices and it’s tax-free,” she said.

The following are exempt from VAT:

• Catering
• Motor vehicles
• Motorboats
• Telecommunications services
• gas
• steam
• Electricity
• Tobacco products
• Marijuana or marijuana products
• Alcoholic beverages
• Any single item priced at more than $2,500

As a reminder, this tax relief only applies to private purchases and not to companies and corporations.

Julia and her daughter took the opportunity to do some back-to-school shopping. “I’m actually glad the bill turned out the way it did, because hey, that’s a lot less money than I saved today,” Julia told WBZ NewsRadio.

WBZ NewsRadio’s Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reported.