Tax Free Holiday Weekend In Massachusetts 14th & 15th

If you have been putting off a large purchase, and live in or near the Massachusetts region, this is the weekend you may want to consider that purchase.  It's the Tax Free Holiday weekend today and tomorrow!  There are a few rules that apply to this holiday though:

Rules of the Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday Weekend


The tax exemption only applies to items purchased for personal use, not business use. Individual items must also cost $2,500 or less.

What's Different for 2010?

This year, Massachusetts residents may want to stock up on their favorite liquors and wines for the holidays, as the tax-free weekend will include alcohol sales. The 2010 Massachusetts sales tax holiday weekend includes "alcoholic beverages sold for off-premises consumption" which means you will still pay tax on the drinks you purchase with a meal in a restaurant or at your favorite local bar.

Exclusions

Certain items are not included in the 2010 Massachusetts sales tax holiday weekend, and are subject to regular sales tax. The list of exclusions is almost identical to the list of previous Massachusetts sales tax holiday weekends.

Transportation-Related

The tax-free week will not include gasoline, motorized boats or vehicles.

Service-Based Purchases

Service-based purchases including meals at restaurants will still be subject to tax.

Utility Bills

Utility payments, including your electric bill, cable bill, Internet bill and cell phone bill are subject to regular taxes and fees.

Business Purchases

Purchases made on behalf of a business. This includes purchases by corporations and "other businesses and purchases by individuals for business use," according to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. This could prove tricky for anyone running a business from home. It's unlikely a cashier at the store will ask if your printer or computer purchase is for home or business use. If you're buying items for your small business or at-home business, you will need to pay the tax. It may be best to inform the cashier, or skip the crowds and save your business purchases for another day.

Retail and Layaway

Know the rules before you shop. Your total retail bill can exceed $2,500 and still be tax-free. The tax-free rule covers individual items, and as long as none of those individual items exceed $2,500 you will avoid paying sales tax.

Items already on layaway will be taxed.

A clothing item which costs more than $175 before tax is subject to tax and is not exempt during the 2010 Massachusetts sales tax holiday weekend. Clothing items costing more than $175 are typically considered "luxury items."

Tobacco Products

Tobacco products will still be subject to the layers of taxation already placed on the products.

 
We are going to try and get up to Massachusetts today to see if we can't score a few deals on some electronic items that were lost in the fire, and save a few extra bucks.  I'll let you know how we make out!