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Don’t get duped this tax-free weekend: What’s worth shopping and what’s not
WBUR • • business
Key Points:
- Massachusetts is holding its annual sales tax holiday on August 8 and 9, suspending the 6.25% sales tax on many consumer goods including furniture, appliances, electronics, and books for both online and in-person purchases.
- Items over $2,500, business purchases, meals, telephone bills, tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and vehicles remain taxable during the holiday, limiting the scope of tax-free savings.
- The best savings opportunities are on big-ticket items just under $2,500, especially electronics like TVs and laptops, which rarely see significant discounts throughout the year.
- Clothing under $175 is already tax-free in Massachusetts, but the holiday can benefit shoppers buying more expensive apparel such as suits or high-end shoes that exceed this longstanding threshold.
- The tax holiday coincides with back-to-school shopping, making it an ideal time for students and families to purchase laptops and other electronics tax-free.
