Massachusetts shoppers will have a tax-free shopping weekend in August 2026, when the state temporarily suspends its 6.25 percent sales tax on most retail items priced under $2,500.
The dates were approved June 11, 2026, through concurrent resolutions in both chambers of the Massachusetts Legislature under legislation H.5495/S.3119. State law makes the sales tax holiday permanent but requires lawmakers to set the specific dates each year.
During the two-day period, most eligible retail purchases will be exempt from the sales tax. Exclusions include motor vehicles, meals, utilities, tobacco products, and other regulated categories.
Online purchases qualify for the exemption if the sale is completed during the tax-free weekend window. Eligibility is generally determined by the transaction date and time when payment is accepted. Orders placed online during the designated period are typically treated the same as in-store purchases, regardless of delivery date, provided they meet state rules.
The exemption applies to both in-person and online retail transactions occurring within the set dates.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, the 2025 sales tax holiday generated approximately $3.65 million in indirect tax revenue through increased consumer activity during the exemption period.
The August timing coincides with the back-to-school shopping season, when household retail spending typically rises across the state.
