Kate Schubel
Updated: The 2024 sales tax holiday in Massachusetts has ended.
The Massachusetts tax-free weekend was a two-day event that allowed shoppers to buy a wide variety of items without paying sales tax. That could have resulted in savings of $6.25 on every $100 spent on eligible purchases. But not all items were tax-exempt during the Massachusetts sales tax holiday.
Massachusetts tax-free weekend
In a world where some sales tax holidays are going away, the Bay State’s tax-free weekend still ran strong. The 2024 sales tax holiday began on Saturday, August 10, and ran through Sunday, August 11. While Massachusetts exempted more items from sales tax than many other states did during their tax holidays, exclusions still applied.
For example, items must have been purchased for personal use to qualify. That means if you wanted to shop for your business, you still had to pay sales tax during the tax-free period. Additionally, some purchases were still taxable, even when purchased for personal use.
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What qualified for MA tax-free weekend?
Similar to other back-to-school tax-free weekends across the country, most retail items were tax-exempt. However, clothing items must have cost $175 or less to qualify, and other qualifying items must have cost $2,500 or less to be tax-free. The tax treatment for items that exceeded these price limitations was different.
- For individual clothing items that exceeded $175, only the amount over $175 was taxable
- For individual clothing items that exceeded $2,500, only the first $175 was tax-free
- For individual non-clothing items (for example, computers) that exceeded $2,500, the entire amount was taxable
What items were excluded from the MA tax-free weekend?
Massachusetts’ tax-free weekend included so many items that it’s easier to have a list of what didn't qualify for the sales tax holiday than for what did. Here are the items that were still taxable during the tax holiday, regardless of price:
- Meals that are normally taxable (for example, from restaurants)
- Motor vehicles (including cars and motorboats)
- Gas, steam, and electricity
- Tobacco and marijuana products
- Alcoholic beverages
- Layaway sales
Rentals of eligible items were tax-free for up to 30 days if paid for in full between August 10 and August 11.
Massachusetts tax-free weekend for online shopping
Online purchases were included in the 2024 Massachusetts tax-free weekend, but there were a few rules you needed to follow. You must have placed and paid for your order during the sales tax holiday. And items must have been ordered during Eastern Daylight Time. Items didn't need to be delivered during the tax-free weekend to qualify as tax-free.
Did Amazon participate in Massachusetts’ tax-free weekend?
Amazon participates in sales tax holidays, including Massachusetts’ tax-free weekend. According to the Amazon sales tax holidays webpage, tax was automatically calculated on taxable items. So, you should have been able to tell what was taxable and what wasn’t before you placed your order.
For more information about Massachusetts' special tax holiday rules, shoppers can visit the state’s sales tax holiday FAQ webpage.
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