The annual Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday Weekend is set to place on Saturday, August 9th and Sunday, August 10th. The Sales Tax Holiday became a permanent event in 2018 as a part of the Grand Bargain bill.

During the sales tax weekend, eligible items of up to $2,500 are exempt from the 6.25% state sales tax. This includes items purchased online. For more information on the state sales tax weekend please visit the states FAQs.

>>>>> READ below an op-ed by State Director Christopher Carlozzi about the Sales Tax Holiday and small businesses, which was submitted to select media outlets in the Commonwealth:

Support Mass. Small Businesses During This Weekend’s Sales Tax Holiday

NFIB, the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization with thousands of members in Massachusetts, urges shoppers in the Commonwealth to take advantage of the state’s annual sales tax holiday this weekend by shopping at locally-owned small businesses. The annual holiday, which was made a permanent event in 2018, takes place this Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10.

The tax-free weekend for eligible items of up to $2,500 are exempt from the 6.25% state sales tax and includes items purchased online.

This annual weekend savings event is a great chance for families to stretch their dollars and support the businesses that keep our communities going. Small businesses are at the heart of the Commonwealth’s economy and Main Streets. They create jobs, support local schools, sponsor youth sports teams, give back through donations and sponsorships, and provide jobs for your friends and neighbors.

Put plainly, when you shop local, more of your money stays in Massachusetts. On average, sixty-seven cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the community. What’s more, another fifty cents is generated through things like employee wages and local supply purchases. That kind of ripple effect keeps our towns strong and keeps people working.

In the aftermath of a legislative session where lawmakers failed to provide tax relief for consumers and small business, we strongly urge shoppers to take advantage of the state’s sales tax holiday weekend. It will provide some level of savings for shoppers, and we encourage people to make those purchases at their local, neighborhood small businesses that will offer exclusive deals alongside exceptional customer service.

This year’s tax holiday comes at a time when Massachusetts small businesses are working through a complex economic environment. According to the latest monthly NFIB Small Business Economic Trends report, released in July, the national Small Business Optimism Index ticked down slightly in June to 98.6, just above its 51-year average. Concerns about taxes, excess inventory, hiring, and uneven consumer demand remain top challenges.

Shopping small this weekend is the best way to save money and support our local economy. For more information on the state sales tax weekend please visit the state’s FAQs.

Christopher Carlozzi is the Massachusetts state director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)