Massachusetts Tax-Free Weekend runs August 17–18, 2025

Massachusetts holds its annual tax-free weekend on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, 2025. During these two days, you pay no state sales tax on most clothing, footwear, and school supplies under certain price limits. The state sales tax in Massachusetts is 6.25 percent, so the savings add up quickly on back-to-school purchases.

The tax-free period runs from 12:01 a.m. Sunday through 11:59 p.m. Monday. Online purchases count if the order is placed during the tax-free window, though some retailers may process them differently—check with the seller if you are ordering close to the important date.

Key Takeaways

  • Clothing and footwear under $175 per item are tax-free; items over that price are taxed normally.
  • School supplies under $100 per item are tax-free, including notebooks, pens, backpacks, and calculators.
  • Accessories like belts, scarves, and hats count as clothing if they are worn on the body; jewelry and watches do not.
  • Clothing for sports or protective gear (like cleats or helmets) is tax-free if it is ordinary clothing, but specialized equipment like skis or golf clubs is not.
  • The tax break applies to in-store and online purchases made during the August 17–18 window.

What items are tax-free and what are not

Clothing and footwear under $175 per item lose the sales tax. This includes shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, socks, shoes, boots, and sneakers. Accessories worn on the body—belts, scarves, hats, gloves, and headbands—also may have access to. The $175 limit applies to each individual item, so a $200 coat is fully taxed, but a $150 coat and a $100 pair of shoes are both tax-free.

School supplies under $100 per item are tax-free. This covers notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, calculators, backpacks, lunch boxes, and desk organizers. Art supplies like sketch pads and colored pencils count. Textbooks and workbooks are also included if purchased separately from a school.

Items that do not may have access to include jewelry, watches, handbags, umbrellas, and sports equipment like skis, golf clubs, or baseball gloves. Clothing with a price tag over $175 is taxed at the full 6.25 percent rate. Specialized protective gear—motorcycle helmets, ski goggles, or safety glasses—is taxed because it is classified as protective equipment rather than ordinary clothing.

How to track the price limit on clothing

The $175 limit is straightforward: look at the price tag before tax. If the tag says $174.99, the item is tax-free. If it says $175.01, you pay tax on the full amount. Retailers are required to ring up the item correctly during the tax-free weekend, but mistakes happen—check your receipt before leaving the store.

For bundled items or sets, each piece is priced separately. If you buy a three-piece outfit where the shirt is $60, the pants are $70, and the jacket is $80, all three are tax-free because each is under $175. If the jacket alone costs $180, only the shirt and pants are tax-free.

School supplies under $100 per item

The $100 limit on school supplies works the same way as clothing. A backpack priced at $99.99 is tax-free; one priced at $100.01 is taxed. A pack of five notebooks for $25 is tax-free. A scientific calculator for $95 is tax-free; a graphing calculator for $120 is taxed.

Items that blur the line—like a desk lamp or a computer mouse—are generally not considered school supplies for tax purposes, even if a student uses them for homework. Furniture like desks or chairs is not tax-free. If you are unsure whether an item qualifies, ask the cashier before you buy it.

Online shopping during tax-free weekend

Online orders placed during the August 17–18 window should arrive without state sales tax, as long as the retailer is based in Massachusetts or has a physical location there. Orders placed before or after the weekend are taxed normally. Some large retailers process orders in batches, so if you order late Monday night, the transaction may not process until after midnight—and the tax may explore.

To be safe, place online orders early in the tax-free window, especially if you are shopping with a retailer you have not used before. Check the order confirmation to see whether tax was charged. If you were charged tax on an order placed during the tax-free weekend, contact the retailer's customer service with your order number and receipt.

Items that look like school supplies but are taxed

Some items sold in the school supply aisle do not may have access to. Furniture—desks, chairs, filing cabinets—is taxed. Computers, tablets, and printers are taxed. Desk lamps and extension cords are taxed. Scissors and paper cutters are tax-free if they are hand tools under $100, but electric versions are taxed.

Art supplies are tax-free if they are under $100 per item: sketch pads, colored pencils, markers, paintbrushes, and sketchbooks all may have access to. However, easels, drawing tables, and art storage cabinets are taxed because they are furniture. If you are buying supplies for a specific class or activity, the rule is straightforward: if it is something a student holds or wears, it is likely tax-free; if it is something a student sits at or plugs in, it is likely taxed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a student to buy tax-free items?

No. Anyone can purchase clothing, footwear, and school supplies during tax-free weekend without paying sales tax. You do not need to show a student ID or proof of enrollment. The tax break is available to all shoppers.

What if I buy something over the price limit?

Items over the limit are taxed at the full 6.25 percent state rate. A $200 coat is taxed on the entire $200. A $120 calculator is taxed on the entire $120. The price limit applies to each individual item, not to your total purchase.

Can I return something I bought during tax-free weekend and get the tax refunded?

If you return an item after tax-free weekend ends, the refund is based on what you paid, which was no tax. You do not receive a tax refund because no tax was charged. If you return an item during the tax-free weekend itself, the refund also has no tax component.

Are uniforms and work clothes tax-free?

Yes, as long as they are ordinary clothing under $175 per item. A school uniform shirt, work pants, or nurse scrubs all may have access to. Specialized uniforms with logos or custom embroidery are still tax-free if they are clothing. However, items like chef's coats with built-in pockets or safety vests with reflective strips may be classified differently—ask the retailer if you are unsure.

What about shoes for sports like cleats or basketball shoes?

Cleats, basketball shoes, running shoes, and soccer shoes are all ordinary footwear and are tax-free if under $175. Specialized equipment like skis, ice skates, or roller skates is taxed because it is classified as sports equipment rather than footwear. The distinction is whether the item is primarily clothing or primarily equipment.