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Retailers push for tax-free weekend to spur late summer shopping traffic

Massachusetts retailers are hoping to spur business in mid-August with a sales tax-free weekend.

July 8, 2015

Massachusetts retailers are hoping to spur business in mid-August by getting state legislative leaders to spare consumers the cost of taxes on purchases during the weekend of August 15 to 16.

The move, according to a new Retailers Association of Massachusetts study, could increase retail sales by $168 million, which the study says could then increase disposable income by $37 million.

The retailers believe it could also compel local shoppers to shop in Massachusetts more rather than in sales-tax free neighboring state New Hampshire and pull online shoppers into local stores, according to a Lowell Sun report.

Such a sales tax holiday has been approved by lawmakers in 10 of the past 11 years, with 2009 as the exception, states the report. In most cases the 6.25 sales tax has been eliminated on items costing $2,500 or less.

"This is a position that we've been in many, many times," Jon Hurst, association president, states in the report. "I think both the retailers and the consumers at this point somewhat know the drill and can react quickly and gear up with little notice."