Updated Oct. 29, 2026. The 2027 dates are usually set by mid-June, and we’ll update this page when lawmakers or the Department of Revenue announce them.
Once a year, Massachusetts suspends its 6.25% sales tax for a weekend on most items that cost $2,500 or less and are bought for personal use. The 2026 holiday was Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8–9, 2026. This page explains how it works, what’s excluded, how the dates are chosen, and when to expect the 2027 dates.
Quick explainer: The cap is per item, not per receipt. You can buy several items in one trip as long as each costs $2,500 or less.
How the sales tax holiday works
- Items priced at $2,500 or less, bought for personal use, are tax-free.
- An item priced over $2,500 is taxed on the full price, not just the amount above the cap.
- Online and catalog purchases count if they’re ordered and paid for during the holiday weekend.
- Layaway works only if you take the item and pay in full during the weekend.
What the data shows
By our calculation, the most anyone can save on a single item is $156.25, on a $2,500 purchase. A $2,501 item saves nothing. So for big-ticket buys such as a laptop or a sofa, a few dollars of difference in the price can decide whether the holiday helps you at all. If you buy several eligible items, the savings add up: $4,000 worth of items, each under the cap, saves $250.
Shoppers tend to save the holiday for appliances, electronics, furniture, mattresses and back-to-school clothes and supplies, since those are big purchases that fall under the cap. Clothing up to $175 is already exempt from Massachusetts sales tax all year, so the holiday matters most for items that are normally taxed.
What isn’t covered
These purchases stay taxable during the holiday: meals, motor vehicles and motorboats, telecommunications services, gas, steam and electricity, tobacco products, marijuana and marijuana products, and alcoholic beverages. Business purchases aren’t eligible either, because the exemption covers only items for personal use.
How the dates are set
Under state law (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 64H, Section 6A), the Legislature can pick the August weekend by June 15. If it doesn’t, the Commissioner of Revenue sets the dates by July 1. The 2018 “Grand Bargain” law made the annual holiday permanent. For 2026, lawmakers set the dates through H.5495 and S.3119.
Does the holiday cost the state money?
Yes. Waiving the tax for a weekend means less revenue, and the state budget accounts for it each year. Our Massachusetts state budget hub follows how the state balances tax breaks and spending.
Tips for shoppers
- Compare prices before the weekend. Some stores hold sales at the same time, and others don’t.
- Keep receipts in case you need to return something. Ask how the store handles tax on returns.
- For other ways Massachusetts taxes affect your budget, see Massachusetts taxes explained and our property tax rates by town.
- Small retailers can find guidance in the Boston small business guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Massachusetts sales tax holiday?
It hasn’t been set yet. Under state law, the Legislature can choose the August weekend by June 15, 2027, or the Department of Revenue sets it by July 1.
When was the 2026 Massachusetts sales tax holiday?
Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8–9, 2026.
What is the limit on the sales tax holiday?
$2,500 per item. Items above that are taxed on the full price.
Are restaurant meals tax-free during the holiday?
No. Meals, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, vehicles, motorboats, utilities and telecom services are excluded.
Can I shop online during the sales tax holiday?
Yes, if the order is placed and paid for during the holiday weekend and the item is for personal use.
Sources
- Mass. General Court: M.G.L. c. 64H, § 6A
- Mass. General Court: press release on the 2026 sales tax holiday
- Mass. DOR: Sales tax holiday FAQ
Additional sources
Featured image: Photo: Daderot at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.