The MA Tax-Free Weekend Survival Guide 2024

Tax-Free Weekend in Massachusetts is scheduled for August 10 and August 11, 2024.

This weekend also falls within Labor Day promotions, providing good opportunities to save.

However, you can easily avoid the lines, the delivery hassle, and the overall lack of help.

In this article, you will learn the basics of Tax-Free Weekend, the many problems and misunderstandings to avoid, and how to save the most money and, more importantly, your time.

Yes, you can be on the beach August 10-11 instead of sweating it out in a crowded store.

After reading this article, you can schedule your tax-free deliveries of appliances, furniture, and everything else at your convenience.

You can save much more than just the tax this year, as we are offering up to 18.75% off on many brands.

Here’s how you can triple the tax savings:

• Instant 6.25% off from Yale on all qualifying brands under $2,500.
• Bonus 6.25% off from Yale with the Yale Card on all qualifying brands under $2,500.
• Exclusive 6.25% Mail-In Rebate 'Match The Tax' on qualifying brands, including Bosch, GE Appliances, KitchenAid, GE Profile, LG, LG Studio, and Samsung.

Please note: These offers are good for personal use purchases only, and all products must be on one invoice. I will explain the 18.75% savings in detail at the end of the article.

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Safeguarding Your Shopping

First, let's protect ourselves.

I wrote this post before a local competitor abruptly shut its doors, taking millions of dollars of customer deposits.

Additionally, the largest online appliance retailer, Appliance Connection, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier this year.

Photo Courtesy of WCVB-TV Boston

Don't let this happen to you.

This article has always included a cautionary note about businesses abruptly shutting down and leaving customers empty-handed.

Boston Appliance won't be the last, as the recession, labor shortages, and rising costs have hurt the appliance business more than most.

You might be tempted to buy now to save on taxes and take delivery later. Just make sure the store will still be around to deliver.

If there's one lesson to take away from this article, it's this: Choose where you shop wisely.

You'll learn how to save both money and time by reading this article, but avoiding losses is even more important.

MA Tax-Free Weekend Dates and Regulations

Tax-Free Weekend states that any item under $2,500 is not subject to the state sales tax.

Any items $2,500 and above are taxable for the full amount.

The tax exemption does not include $2,500. At $2,499.99, you pay zero tax. At $2,500, you pay the full tax of $156.25.

Tax-Free Weekend is exclusively for consumers.

Builders cannot purchase 1,000 refrigerators for their projects, for example.

Full payment is required for all orders, but there is no need to arrange delivery at the time of purchase.

In Summary:

• Items must be paid in full.
• Builder sales do not qualify. Unfortunately, you cannot buy a building full of appliances and save the tax. However, the individual homeowners in that building can buy the merchandise to save the tax.
• There is no limit to the singular items under $2,500, so you can buy an infinite number of non-taxable items at $2,499.
• Any items exchanged after the holiday will be taxed at the standard 6.25%.
• You do not need to schedule delivery at the time of purchase.

MA Tax-Free Weekend Survival Guide

1. Shop Before the Weekend

Do your shopping before the weekend by phone or in person. Most stores will have promotions available early.

Everyday essentials like diapers and tissue paper can be purchased over the phone or online.

However, if you're looking to shop for decorative items, it's best to shop in person.

Pro Tip: A few retailers, like Jordan's Furniture, offer 15% off before tax-free weekend. We have a similar promotion of up to 18.75% when you pay with our Yale Card.

2. Start a Quote or List Early

Getting a quote on the items you wish to purchase can save you time. However, you cannot buy the products until the weekend to save taxes.

Either tell the salesperson to process the order on the tax holiday or call that weekend. This will save an incredible amount of time.

3. Schedule an Appointment

You don't have to wait for a salesperson.

Why waste your time?

Many companies have appointment schedulers online.

You can browse first, then meet your salesperson.

With many stores cutting staff to reduce costs, making an appointment ensures you will be able to shop without any issues.

4. Live Chat

Live Chat has become a preferred resource for many people. You can talk to someone without having to shop in a store.

You get the answers you want in a minimal amount of time.

Plus, it beats waiting in a phone queue.

5. Virtual Appointments

Virtual appointments are another good time-saving idea. It's like a combination of live chat and an appointment.

We used virtual appointments throughout COVID-19.

You can see the product through your phone and talk to a salesperson as they guide you through the store, all without having to be there.

6. During Tax-Free Weekend, Head Out Early

If you still want to shop that weekend, head out early to your prime destinations.

By prime, I refer to the big-ticket items. If you're waiting in line for three hours for a few $20 items, you may find that your time is worth more.

Shopping early will help you with scheduling delivery.

7. Buy Online

You can also save time by buying online if the store processes the order before midnight on Monday. We have someone processing orders until 11:59 PM.

Web orders are great for commodities like dishwashers or laundry.

However, for more detailed purchases involving installation or complex deliveries, you should talk to someone.

You don’t want to save money only to have the product not fit or face some other complication.

8. Shop Smart to Avoid Exchanges

You lose the tax advantage if the refrigerator or sofa doesn't fit and has to be exchanged after Tax-Free Weekend.

That's right, exchanges after the fact are taxable.

Be careful with bigger items if you're unsure about the product or style.

Pro Tip: Many stores have dedicated staff members who will come to your home and measure. Don't hesitate to ask for assistance before purchasing or taking advantage of the tax holiday.

9. Check Store Hours

This may seem baffling, but smaller stores rarely change their hours for this weekend.

Larger stores and chains will be open for extended hours. Take advantage of it either early or late. But start early if you can.

10. Beware of Credit Card Fraud

This may seem obvious but never provide your credit card information online unless the site is secure.

You can check by looking at your URL link at the top of the page. It should have a lock or say "secure."

11. Ask About the Delivery Process

You want to be very specific about your delivery requirements while remaining flexible.

Typically, a store will sell two months of business in two days, so specific dates will be tough to accommodate.

Historically, scheduling delivery to meet your schedule is the toughest part of Tax-Free Weekend.

If you don't need the merchandise immediately, there's no rush to schedule an order.

12. Be Careful Where You Purchase

Anyone can take an order. Shipping, however, is another matter entirely.

I mentioned this last year, but this year, you may face a new problem. With the ongoing recession, certain stores may likely close.

Be very careful. Warning signs include:

• Nobody answering the phone
• Old displays indicating they can't afford to reinvest
• No staff present during regular hours
• Reviews complaining of long lead times

You must check recent reviews, especially for delivery.

Tax-Free Weekend brings a surge of business equivalent to six weeks of sales crammed into just two days.

Make sure your store can execute your delivery on time.

13. Don't Be Pressured to Buy

You might feel pressured or traumatized by the old supply chain problems. That was two years ago.

Now, every product and brand is usually available within a few days.

If you are not ready, Black Friday is only 90 days away.

Yale Save the Tax Promotion

I seldom, if ever, talk about Yale in a promotional sense. The blog wasn't created for that.

Triple The Tax

• Instant 6.25% off from Yale on all qualifying brands under $2,500
• Bonus Instant 6.25% off from Yale with Yale Card on all qualifying brands under $2,500
• Exclusive 6.25% Mail-In Rebate 'Match The Tax' on qualifying brands: Bosch, GE Appliances, KitchenAid, GE Profile, LG, LG Studio, and Samsung.

Good for personal use retail purchases only. All products must be on one invoice.

Tax Holiday 8/10 – 8/11:

• Instant 6.25% off from the State on all products under $2500 on every brand
• Instant 6.25% off from Yale with Yale Card on all qualifying brands under $2500
• 6.25% Mail-In Rebate 'Match The Tax' on qualifying brands

There is no $2500 cap, and qualifying brands include Bosch, GE Appliances, KitchenAid, GE Profile, LG, LG Studio, Samsung, and Speed Queen.

Good for personal use retail purchases only, no builders (sorry), and all products must be on one invoice.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the MA Tax Holiday?

The MA tax holiday is August 10th-11th, but you can shop the deals early at Yale Appliance and get up to 18.75% off your purchases.

What items are eligible for the Tax-Free Holiday?

From July 29th-August 9th, all Bosch, Café, GE Appliances, KitchenAid, GE Profile, LG, LG Studio, and Samsung under $2,500 qualify for an instant 6.25% savings.

On the Weekend of August 10th-11th, all models from every brand under $2,500 won't be charged MA sales tax.

How do I save an additional 6.25% on top of the tax-free savings?

Use your Yale Card to earn an additional 6.25% off instantly on all Bosch, Café, GE Appliances, KitchenAid, GE Profile, LG, LG Studio, and Samsung under $2,500.

If you don't have a Yale Card, you can apply here.

What items are eligible for the 'Match The Tax' Rebate of 6.25%?

Receive another 6.25% rebate on qualifying brands purchased from 7/29/24 to 8/9/24.

Qualifying brands: Bosch, Café, GE Appliances, KitchenAid, GE Profile, LG, LG Studio, and Samsung.

This promotion has no maximum of $2,500.

However, rebates must be submitted by September 9, with deliveries taken by October 11.

When does delivery need to be taken?

You must take delivery within two weeks of your purchase.

Can I buy items online and still qualify for the Yale Tax Savings?

Yes, online purchases qualify for Yale tax savings. The discount will not appear in your cart but will be reflected on your invoice. We will be open until midnight on Sunday.

Can I exchange items purchased during the Tax Holiday?

Any items exchanged after August 11 will be charged the standard MA 6.25% sales tax.

What about non-qualifying brands like Thermador, Monogram, SKS, Wolf, and Miele?

They are not part of the Yale promotion, but you can save the 6.25% tax on Tax-Free Weekend.

So, to wrap up:

• Receive the 6.25% instant tax discount from now until August 11 on qualifying brands: Bosch, Café, GE Appliances, KitchenAid, GE Profile, LG, LG Studio, and Samsung.
• Receive another 6.25% when you pay with the Yale Card for qualifying brands under $2500.
• Receive a mail-in rebate of 6.25% on qualifying brands in any amount over $2500. However, you can't postpone delivery, unlike the other rebates.

We will also have special packages, installation deals, and 0% financing.

In Summary:

• You can save the equivalent of the sales tax on in-stock appliances only from August 1 to 11th.
• You must take delivery within two weeks.
• Orders must be paid in full unless you use your Yale card.
• Brand exclusions apply. See your salesperson for details.

Our Final Advice for Tax-Free Weekend

In summary, plan your weekend a couple of weeks in advance.

Develop your list early and shop competitively. Start with your high-ticket items or items that will save you the most money.

Look at the pre-tax holiday sales closely—they may be better than the tax-free weekend deals.

Use live chat and virtual appointments to maximize your time and limit waiting at a store.

Generate quotes beforehand. During that weekend, call and have those quotes turned into orders. 

That's the key to maximizing your savings and avoiding crowds.

Remember, you want to be sure of your purchases. Exchanges after that weekend are taxable.

Also, be careful where you shop. Check reviews of the stores beforehand to understand what will happen after the sale.

Ask tons of questions and get all promises and details in writing.

Call me a skeptic, but the written word always trumps the spoken promise.

However, saving 6.25% is a small consolation if you end up buying a couch or stove you hate, so don't be pressured into making a purchase.

Appliance and furniture sales are predictable. The next one is Black Friday—less than 90 days away.

Additional Resources

Want more information on appliances? Get the Yale Appliance Buying Guide with features, specs, buying strategies, and the answers to the top 10 appliance questions. Well over 1.5 million people have read and trusted a Yale Guide.