Massachusetts residents’ favorite shopping weekend has arrived! For some stores, tax free weekend often attracts more customers (and leads to more sales) than Black Friday, the nation’s biggest shopping weekend of the year. In fact, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue expects the state to lose $20 million in revenue from the tax holiday, meaning that around $320 million worth of purchases (that would normally be taxed) will be made this weekend. Some cynics will point out that Massachusetts residents would only need to drive about an hour north to New Hampshire to celebrate tax free weekend every day, but what would be the fun of that? Here are Savvy Student’s tips for making the best of your Tax Free holiday.
1. Know the rules!
Many consumers go into tax-free weekend not really knowing what they are eligible to buy, and end up missing out on deals! Others get overzealous, and are disappointed when they discover that their purchases do not count as tax free. Here are some basic rules for tax free weekend-
1. Tax free items must be under $2,500. The one bit of wiggle is that, if you have a coupon, items with a full price over $2,500 that are brought to under $2,500 are still tax free.
2. Cars, motorcycles, motorboats, restaurant meals, cellphone plans, and tobacco products are still taxed.
3. Items you buy online are still taxed.
4. “Tangible, personal rentals” like a couch are tax free, as are items that you purchase on a rain check.
You can see the full list of rules on the Department of Revenue’s website.
2. Do your research!
For some shoppers, tax free weekend research begins long before the holiday arrives. Thinking ahead can help you finds some fantastic deals because some stores offer discounts above and beyond the tax free deal. You can often find these sales at stores which sell products that are popular on tax free weekend, such as electronics or furniture. You can find out if a store had additional deals by looking on its website or seeing if anything is mentioned in the store’s weekly flier.
3. Shop local!
By shopping at local stores, you may often get the best deals on tax free weekend, as well as the long-term customer services that a small local store can give you. Local stores spend weeks or months before the holiday gearing up for the big day, because they know that it is when their biggest sales will happen. Especially for stores that have suffered dips in sales over the last few years, tax free weekend is a redeeming chance. In the town of Shrewsbury, where several local stores have closed over the past year, those that remain are working to make tax-free weekend a time to make great sales, forge relationships with new customers, and strengthen relationships with old ones.
We hope that these tips will help you find great deals all tax-free weekend long! Happy Saving!
~Savvy Student
1. Know the rules!
Many consumers go into tax-free weekend not really knowing what they are eligible to buy, and end up missing out on deals! Others get overzealous, and are disappointed when they discover that their purchases do not count as tax free. Here are some basic rules for tax free weekend-
1. Tax free items must be under $2,500. The one bit of wiggle is that, if you have a coupon, items with a full price over $2,500 that are brought to under $2,500 are still tax free.
2. Cars, motorcycles, motorboats, restaurant meals, cellphone plans, and tobacco products are still taxed.
3. Items you buy online are still taxed.
4. “Tangible, personal rentals” like a couch are tax free, as are items that you purchase on a rain check.
You can see the full list of rules on the Department of Revenue’s website.
2. Do your research!
For some shoppers, tax free weekend research begins long before the holiday arrives. Thinking ahead can help you finds some fantastic deals because some stores offer discounts above and beyond the tax free deal. You can often find these sales at stores which sell products that are popular on tax free weekend, such as electronics or furniture. You can find out if a store had additional deals by looking on its website or seeing if anything is mentioned in the store’s weekly flier.
3. Shop local!
By shopping at local stores, you may often get the best deals on tax free weekend, as well as the long-term customer services that a small local store can give you. Local stores spend weeks or months before the holiday gearing up for the big day, because they know that it is when their biggest sales will happen. Especially for stores that have suffered dips in sales over the last few years, tax free weekend is a redeeming chance. In the town of Shrewsbury, where several local stores have closed over the past year, those that remain are working to make tax-free weekend a time to make great sales, forge relationships with new customers, and strengthen relationships with old ones.
We hope that these tips will help you find great deals all tax-free weekend long! Happy Saving!
~Savvy Student
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