Massachusetts lawmakers set dates for this summer season’s gross sales tax vacation

Buying

Skip the gross sales tax on most purchases beneath $2,500, however do not anticipate to save lots of on motorboats or marijuana — these are a number of the exclusions.

The signal on Route 1 at Bernie & Phyl’s in Saugus promoting an upcoming summer season gross sales tax vacation in 2010. Erik Jacobs for The Boston Globe, File

Excellent news, customers: Massachusetts lawmakers have declared that the annual summer season gross sales tax vacation will return the weekend of Aug. 12-13.

The state Home and Senate agreed on the dates Thursday, in keeping with State Home Information Service. On these two days, customers won’t need to pay the 6.25% Massachusetts gross sales tax on most items lower than $2,500.

Retailers Affiliation of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst beforehand instructed State Home Information Service that the annual gross sales tax vacation weekend generates about half a billion {dollars} in gross sales for Massachusetts companies.

“Now we have some members that it’s their greatest weekend your complete yr. Others say it’s akin to both Black Friday weekend or a weekend in December,” Hurst instructed SHNS. “It actually brings folks out to buy after they in any other case wouldn’t be spending {dollars}.”

The gross sales tax vacation turned a everlasting fixture beneath the so-called “grand cut price” invoice in 2018, which additionally raised the state’s minimal wage and applied a assured paid household and medical go away program. 

Sure purchases are excluded from the gross sales tax vacation, together with automobiles, motorboats, marijuana, tobacco merchandise, fuel and electrical energy, meals, and alcohol.