The Massachusetts sales tax holiday weekend will be in full swing in just a few weeks. The weekend of August 12-13, 2023 will be Tax-Free Weekend, meaning any consumer items you purchase under $2,500 will be completely exempt from sales tax. In this article, we’ll show you how this can amount to possible savings for you and your family. We’ll also break down Tax-Free Weekend to indicate precisely which items it affects and what you can and can’t save on. Finally, this article will tell you about Magic Beans’ plans for the event, as we know saving on items for your kids is a huge priority. 

Shopping With Magic Beans on Tax-Free Weekend

Some of the best items to shop for on Tax-Free Weekend are baby gear and accessories for your growing family, as almost all but the most expensive will be exempted from sales tax. If you have a baby registry, Tax-Free Weekend is the perfect time to reach out to your friends and family to check some items off. As parents, we know just how costly getting all of these items can be, not to mention the massive demand for baby gear around this time of year. That’s why we’re happy to offer online pre-orders to ensure you can get even the most specific items you might need, from top-of-the-line, leading brands in baby essentials like Bugaboo, Nuna, UPPAbaby, and more. We also offer an excellent selection of nursery furniture from brands like Romina, Pali, and Stokke. In addition, you can even book a virtual or in-store consultation where one of our experts will help you find exactly what you’re looking for. You can browse our full selection at mbeans.com and look into our consultation and pre-order options.

Moreover, we’re offering an additional sale of up to 60% off on clearance items in small baby gear, nursery essentials, and toys. We also have a fantastic promotion that offers a free sun canopy with the purchase of an Uppababy Remi travel crib. We hope to hear from you online or see you at our location in Wellesley! 

What Do You Need to Know About Tax-Free Weekend?

Tax-Free Weekend is a tax holiday in Massachusetts on August 12 - 13, 2023. All consumer items sold for less than $2,500 will be exempt from the usual 6.25% sales tax. This means you can save up to $156.25 in additional taxes on any single item! 

• The sales tax exemption only applies to personal items. That means any business purchases are still taxable at the full regular rate. 
• This tax holiday only applies to Massachusetts, so be careful about making purchases online, as you could pay sales tax depending on where you shop. 
• Tax-Free Weekend doesn’t apply to layaway sales, so purchases do have to be made in full during the holiday period to be untaxed. 
• The sales tax exemption has a $2,500 cap, so any items below that price will not be taxed. However, any above the cap will be taxed in their entirety, not just the amount in excess of $2,500. 
• Despite this, you can still make bigger purchases. It's possible to save on multiple items even if they total more than $2500, as long as each item is less. 

Some great benefits come with the tax exemption that could easily be overlooked:

• First, it's important to note that the sales tax exemption on clothing will be extended to clothing items worth up to $2,500 rather than the usual $175 limit. However, clothing items worth more than $2,500 will still be taxed in full after the first $2,500. 
• Any items purchased during the tax holiday will not incur sales tax even if delivered after the weekend ends. 
• If you need to return or exchange a product after the tax holiday ends, you can do so without paying taxes on that item. 
• Finally, and most importantly, all businesses in Massachusetts will participate in the tax holiday as long as they are open that weekend and located in Massachusetts. 

To recap the most important facts to keep in mind, Tax-Free Weekend is a Massachusetts tax holiday where sales tax is not applied to consumer items. All Massachusetts businesses must participate, and the tax exemption will apply to all personal items under $2500. However, your total shopping can still add up to more than the cap as long as each individual item you purchase is under $2500. 

How Should You Prepare for Tax-Free Weekend?

To get the most benefits from the tax-free weekend, you should consider it as any other holiday or holiday weekend: Expect stores to be packed and plan accordingly. Looking into products available at Massachusetts retailers is a great way to prepare, especially if you use that information to make a list before you go out. Prioritize the items you want most in case there is a long wait at your retailer of choice. Be sure also to research additional promotions stores use to entice shoppers on tax-free weekend. Pre-ordering is a great strategy to ensure you get the items you want without worrying about stocking issues. This allows you to reserve high-demand items and then pay the reduced price on the weekend of the holiday. Be careful relying on this too much, as not all stores will offer this option.