If you're looking for some deals on shopping, you are in luck.
The Massachusetts sales-tax holiday is coming up very soon.
"During the (sales-tax) holiday, the state’s 6.25% sales tax is suspended for most retail items priced under $2,500," according to a release from the state earlier this summer.
“This year’s temporary suspension of the sales tax will bring consumers needed economic relief while boosting revenue for small businesses and retailers,” House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, D-Quincy, said in the June release.
In July and August, 17 states will have sales-tax holidays, including the Bay State.
Here's what to know about the upcoming sales-tax holiday.
When can people shop in Massachusetts with no sales tax?
Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, and Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, are the official dates of Massachusetts’ annual sales tax holiday, according to the Massachusetts Legislature website.
Does the sales-tax holiday need to be approved each year?
The Legislature needs to vote to set the dates of the holiday each year, per a state late law passed in 2018, according to the Massachusetts Legislature website.
The website noted that "both branches adopted resolutions setting this year’s dates."
Why is there a need for a sales-tax holiday in the Bay State?
The Massachusetts Legislature website reported that a spike in consumer activity routinely boosts indirect tax revenues.
The website also reported that the Department of Revenue's final figures on the 2024 sales tax holiday stated that it generated $3.54 million in indirect tax revenues due to increased economic activity.
"At a time when consumers are seeing prices on store shelves spike, driven in part by federally imposed tariffs, this year’s Massachusetts sales-tax holiday will give shoppers a much-needed break," according to a past release from the Massachusetts Legislature. "The holiday also encourages families looking to shop for back-to-school season to support local small businesses and retailers."
A big concern, U.S. shoppers say, are tariffs. Three-quarters, or 74% of those surveyed, said they are shopping earlier this year because they are worried tariffs will cause prices to go up later this season.
"In June, people felt a little bit more worried about their finances and they decided, 'Hey, maybe I'll just buy what I need and then replenish later in the year,'" Katherine Cullen, National Retail Federation vice president of industry and consumer insights, told USA Today last month. "That shifted in July when they felt 'No, I need to stock up and save because things might be much more expensive later in the season or later in the year.'"
In the report, Cullen added, "Customers and retailers alike enjoy the benefits of sales tax holidays. These tax-free events can help drive customers to stores, and result in increased sales because customers may purchase additional items that they were not shopping for that day."
Where can people check to see what products are eligible?
People can check out the Department of Revenue website for information about eligible purchases on the sales-tax holiday.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Massachusetts sales tax holiday 2025: When to shop to save money
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