Taking quick action, the Legislature has approved a bill authorizing a sales tax holiday for the weekend of August 13-14. The Governor's office has already said he will sign the bill, probably early next week.
The terms and conditions for the holiday will be identical to those of previous holidays; Technical Information Release 10-10 from last year's holiday will get a quick rewrite to make it work for this year.
DOR's preliminary estimate is that taxpayers will save about $20.5 million over the two days.
The holiday began as a one-day event 2004, and has been held annually since then with the exception of the summer of 2009, which was the same time the sales tax increased from 5 percent to the current 6.25 percent. The savings to taxpayers have been estimated as follows: 2004, $10.1 million; 2005, $15.4 million; 2006, $16.9 million; 2007, $15.9 million; 2008, $14.9 million; and 2010, $19.9 million (first time holiday was held with sales tax rate set at 6.25 percent).
Willa, the legislation establishing the holiday has been signed and the holiday is on for August 13 and 14. DOR has published a new Technical Information Release on the holiday on its home page at www.mass.gov/dor .
Posted by: Robert Bliss | August 09, 2011 at 01:37 PM
Dan, the Governor has signed the bill and the sales tax holiday is on for August 13 and 14.
Posted by: Robert Bliss | August 09, 2011 at 01:35 PM
just a quick note. if you know what you want to buy, check the prices this week cause the stores raises them for the tax-free days to make more money cause they know the people will be out in record numbers.
Posted by: mrdad40@yahoo.com | August 08, 2011 at 07:33 AM
I AM READING THE POSTING ON THE TAX FREE HOLIDAY THE GOVERNOR MIGHT SIGN NEXT WEEK. THE FIRST DAY OF NEXT WEEK IS AUGUST 14TH
IF I DON'T COLLECT SALES TAX ON AUGUST 13TH SHOULD I GET ALL MY CUSTOMERS INFORMATION JUST IN CASE THE BILL DOESN'T GET SIGNED
SO I CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM ABOUT PAYING SALES TAX. ALSO DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT SIGN THE BILL ON SUNDAY THAT WOULD HELP IF YOU SIGN THE BILL ON SUNDAY IT WILL MEAN LESS PAPERWORK GETTING ALL MY CUSTOMER INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY ALSO.
Posted by: DAN | August 08, 2011 at 07:24 AM
As a retail business owner, it would be very helpful to know if this is going to be signed/approved. We'd like to have staff available, etc. We really would like to have more than a week to plan. Thank you. Willa Breese, owner Kitchen Outfitters, Acton, MA.
Posted by: Willa Breese | August 04, 2011 at 08:25 AM