Massachusetts shoppers are getting a break this weekend as the state’s annual tax-free holiday returns Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8-9, 2026. For two days, most retail items priced at $2,500 or less will be exempt from the state’s 6.25% sales tax, making it a good time to stock up on back-to-school supplies, home essentials, or big-ticket purchases.
Tax-free weekend returns to Massachusetts
The deal applies to most in-store and online purchases made during the holiday, but not everything qualifies. Meals, motor vehicles, motorboats, electricity, gas, steam, and telecommunications services are still taxable, and the exemption is only for personal purchases, not business buys.
Usually taxed in Massachusetts
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Prepared meals and restaurant food
- Clothing over $175 per item, but only the amount above $175 is taxed
- Jewelry and accessories
- Motor vehicles and motorboats
- Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana products
- Gas, electricity, steam, and telecommunications services
Usually tax free in Massachusetts
- Groceries and most unprepared food for home consumption
- Clothing and footwear priced at $175 or less per item
- Prescription medications
- Many medical devices
- Newspapers and magazines
- Some home heating fuel
Big exception to remember
- Food is often tax free when it is groceries, but taxable when it is a prepared meal, takeout, or restaurant item
The timing could not be better, especially with late-summer shopping already in full swing. If you are eyeing a new laptop, dorm gear, furniture or a replacement appliance, this weekend could be a smart chance to save a little extra cash before the fall rush. For more info or FAQ, visit Mass.gov.
