Massachusetts switches its 6.25% sales tax off for one August weekend, and it's the broadest holiday in the country — nearly anything you buy for yourself qualifies as long as the single item costs $2,500 or less.
Full item-by-item listAugust 8–9, 2026
Saturday, August 8 through Sunday, August 9
There's no fixed date to plan around — the Legislature picks a fresh two-day August weekend by joint resolution each year, no later than June 15. If lawmakers don't act, the Commissioner of Revenue names the weekend by July 1.
Do online orders count?
Yes — order and pay online during the two days, on Eastern time, and it's tax-free even if the box arrives later. That covers out-of-state sellers shipping into Massachusetts too.
| Item | Price cap | Tax status |
|---|---|---|
| Most retail goods bought for personal use clothes, furniture, appliances, electronics, toys, sports gear — if a single item is $2,500 or less, it's tax-free | $2,500 | Exempt |
| Rentals of up to 30 days the rental has to be paid in full over the weekend | $2,500 | Exempt |
| Any single item priced over $2,500 the whole price is taxed, not just the part above $2,500 | — | Not exempt |
| Meals & restaurant food | — | Not exempt |
| Motor vehicles & motorboats renting one doesn't qualify either | — | Not exempt |
| Alcohol, tobacco & marijuana products | — | Not exempt |
| Gas, steam & electricity | — | Not exempt |
| Telecommunications services | — | Not exempt |
| Layaway purchases and you can't cancel an earlier order to rebook it over the weekend | — | Not exempt |
Source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Sales Tax Holiday Frequently Asked Questions — the place to check any edge case.
$2,500 per item. There's no limit on the cart — five $2,000 items in one order are all tax-free, because the threshold applies to each item, not the receipt.
No. Go a dollar over and the whole price is taxed — sales tax is due on the full $3,000, not just the $500 above the line. Clothing is the one exception: on a garment over $2,500, the first $175 still comes off, because Massachusetts exempts that much year-round.
Meals, motor vehicles, motorboats, telecommunications services, gas, steam, electricity, tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and any single item over $2,500. Almost everything else you'd buy for yourself does.
Yes. Place and pay for the order during the two days, on Eastern time, and it's exempt even if delivery comes later — including from out-of-state sellers shipping into Massachusetts.
Yes. Any Massachusetts retailer that normally charges sales tax and is open that weekend has to honor the holiday. If you were charged tax by mistake, the store owes you the refund — bring your receipt.
Not set yet. Massachusetts picks a new two-day August weekend every year: the Legislature designates it by joint resolution no later than June 15, and if it doesn't, the Commissioner of Revenue names one by July 1.
Checked against Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Sales Tax Holiday Frequently Asked Questions on 2026-08-14. See the national calendar for every state's holidays.