The beneficent Mass. legislature has declared this weekend the second-in-history sales-tax-free holiday, for purchases under $2,500.
Understandably, retailers have blitzed the media with frenzied bally-hoo.
Per the Mass. DOR website, the following do not qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption and remain subject to tax: all motor vehicles, motorboats, meals, telecommunications services, gas, steam (steam?), electricity, and tobacco products.
Rental fees are also excluded from tax, provided the rental is paid for this weekend. Rain checks received this weekend are still subject to tax, but redeeming a previously-issued rain check is not.
Finally, the sales tax exemption only applies to items for personal, not business, use. Internet sales of eligible items are exempt from the tax, by the way.
The DOR seems to assume that a lot of people will buy computers, at least from the examples they give on their site, which also explains how the tax is computed on big-ticket articles of clothing: wedding gowns, for example.
What would be on your wish list?
I can think of a couple things off the top of my head:
– a new gas stove for P&B
– roofing materials for #11
– flooring and a new sliding back door for #20
Everyone else can knock themselves out at the high definition TV counter at BJ’s and Best Buy: may God have mercy on any sales associate in or near the personal electronics department.